Gender Equality & Disability Rights

The BRIDGE training which selected from the modules, Gender, Social Inclusion and Disability Rights conducted from 25^th to 27^th March 2026, at Ganta, Nimba County, Republic of Liberia in West Africa was, by the views expressed and the standards of the BRIDGE Program, very successful. The course was the first cohort of a total of three, put forth from a concept presented by the National Elections Commission of Liberia to the United Nations Development Programme/Liberia Electoral Support Project (UNDP/LESP), and UN-Women.

Twenty-five (25) participants, comprising ten (10) women and fifteen (15) men, participated in the course. These participants were staff of the Commission, most of whom are elections magistrates or managers, for the various counties in Liberia.

Several highlights on the agenda, in addition to the BRIDGE formalities, included deriving a definitive position on what could be defined as sex, as well as its attributes; how roles constitute a defining concept in understanding the difference between sex and gender. Barriers common to preventing women and people with disability participation in social, political, and public life were identified, explored and approaches considered correspondingly helpful in lowering or removing such barriers were examined.

Violence against women in politics was linked to findings addressed in a number of conventions, and international treaties. Moreover, a validated Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Policy of the National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia was customized into the course delivery. Topics addressing principles, protection issues; inclusion and disability rights were presented.

One national Accrediting Facilitator, one (1) long-term Workshop Facilitator, and three (3) Workshop Facilitators were paired in the delivery of the first of the three cohorts. These series of courses, more so, constitute a beginning initiative for the process of enrolling the long-term Workshop Facilitator as a BRIDGE Accrediting Facilitator.