Monrovia, le 7 March 2017

The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will be represented in the 2^nd International Symposium on Women organised on 8 March 2017, in Monrovia, Liberia by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and Foreign Affairs of that country.

The symposium will highlight the progress made on women’s rights and propose strategies for achieving the gender equality goal in Africa.

At the end of this event which is part of activities to celebrate the International Women Day on 8 March of each year, the Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Fatima Dia Sow, will award a Certificate of Honour to the President of Liberia and current Chair of ECOWAS, Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

The Certificate was signed by the Ministers of Women and Gender of the fifteen (15) Member States as well as the ECOWAS Commission, during the statutory meeting of Ministers of Gender held on 10 February 2017, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The certificate is awarded in recognition of Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf’s exceptional political career as well as her remarkable contribution to the consolidation of democracy and promotion of women’s rights not only in her country but also in Africa.

Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first elected female Head of State of an ECOWAS Member State, has made significant contribution to the promotion of gender equality, development and peace as well as empowerment of men, and particularly women, in conflict situation in Africa, notably in her country, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire.

Through her leadership roles in the various political setups and international organisations, she has encouraged the rights of women to vote and gender agenda in development.