Women Land Rights Taskforce Of Liberia (WLRTFL) Climax One Day Awareness On Women’s Land Rights For Women In Rural Montserrado in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism

Moiuton Corner, Brewerville – In a significant step toward empowering women in Liberia, 26 women from the Moiuton Corner, Brewerville community have benefited from a one-day awareness session on Legal Issues About Women’s Land Rights, as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

By: Joscious Cecelia Ballah

The event, was organized by the  Women’s Land Rights Taskforce and it was held under the theme “Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” focused on educating women about their legal entitlements to land, a fundamental resource for economic stability and social empowerment.

The awareness session was facilitated by Cllr. Ruth Jappah, a renowned Liberian lawyer and advocate for women’s rights. The event addressed the numerous challenges women face in accessing, owning, and controlling land in Liberia, a country where customary and statutory laws often intersect, complicating the legal landscape for women.

Speaking to the women, Cllr. Jappah informed participants that the Liberian Land Rights Law gives them (women) the rights to own property and that women must always ensure to have all the requisite documents for their lands.

“In order to make sure the land is yours, always get papers for it and don’t allow anyone to give you lands with the mouth (by talking orally), we have our office in town, always make sure to contact us and we can guide you in the process. Cllr. Jappah said.

In Liberia, land is not only a critical economic asset but also a key symbol of identity and power. However, for many women, accessing land remains a distant dream due to a mix of traditional gender norms, legal ambiguities, and cultural practices that limit their control over this resource. Even with the introduction of the Land Rights Law, which seeks to ensure gender equality in land ownership, many women remain unaware of their rights, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, exclusion from decision-making, and economic instability.

This lack of awareness is one of the driving forces behind the Women Land Rights Task Force of Liberia (WLRTF), which is dedicated to raising awareness about women’s legal rights to land. The task force recognizes that to break the cycle of poverty and gender inequality, it is essential for women to not only understand their rights but to actively defend and assert them.

The central aim of the women land rights awareness session was to enhance legal literacy among women in Moiuton Corner, with a particular focus on understanding the Land Rights Law, inheritance rights, and the protections available under Liberia’s statutory land laws. By equipping women with knowledge about their legal entitlements, the event sought to reduce the barriers that prevent them from accessing and owning land.

Cllr. Jappah, who led the session, stressed the importance of legal education in empowering women to claim their rights. “Knowledge is power,” she said. “When women understand their legal rights to land, they become stronger in advocating for themselves, and they can challenge any attempt to deny them their rightful place in land ownership.”

The event also focused on teaching women about the legal processes involved in securing land, including how to challenge discriminatory practices and how to navigate the legal systems in both urban and rural areas. Women were encouraged to stand firm against gender-based discrimination and to use the law to protect their land and property.

As part of the efforts to continue creating awareness among women, WLRTF announced at the event that they will host a series of community town hall meetings that allowed participants to engage in open discussions about their rights to land and allows beneficiaries to ask questions.

Cllr. Jappa also took off time to  showcase  other successful cases of women reclaiming their land and called on the women to challenging discriminatory practices that deny women’s rights to land.

“This is a real eye-opener for me,” said Esther Forkpa. “Before today, I never knew how much power the law gives us as women. I will no longer allow anyone to take my land  or my family land from me. I now know how to fight for it.”

The stories shared during the town halls were particularly impactful, as they offered concrete examples of women who had successfully navigated Liberia’s legal system to protect their land. But it also expose some of the challenges women have and continue to suffer due to negative traditional norms and inequalities, stressing the importance of women gaining knowledge about the laws and how they can take their stance.

To further enhance the women’s understanding of the legal framework surrounding land rights, the WLRTF distributed educational materials, including simplified flyers and pamphlets. These materials, produced in collaboration with the Liberia Land Authority (LLA), summarized key points of the Land Rights Law, statutory land laws, and inheritance rights. The materials were designed to be accessible to women from all educational backgrounds, ensuring that no one was left behind.

“We wanted to make sure the women leave with something they could refer to later,” said a representative of the women’s land right task force. “The materials are easy to understand, and we hope they will continue to serve as a resource for these women as they navigate the challenges of land ownership.”

In addition to the in-person workshops and materials distribution, the WLRTF is expected to launch a media campaign to extend the reach of the event. Radio broadcasts, social media posts, to share information about women’s land rights, as well as success stories

The one-day awareness event in Moiuton Corner is just one part of the larger effort by the WLRTF to raise awareness and empower women across Liberia. The initiative is part of a broader movement to create an inclusive and gender-equal society, where women have the legal and social resources they need to thrive.

The event concluded, with all 26 participants leaving with  renewed confidence in their ability to assert their land rights and stand up against gender-based violence and discrimination. For many, the workshop marked the beginning of a journey toward greater empowerment and economic security.

“We are not just learning for ourselves,” said Roseline Duo. “We are learning for our daughters, for our granddaughters, so they can live in a Liberia where they have the same land rights as men.”

With continued advocacy, education, and community engagement, it is hoped that women across Liberia will continue to make strides toward securing their land and property rights, paving the way for a more equal and just society.

The post Women Land Rights Taskforce Of Liberia (WLRTFL) Climax One Day Awareness On Women’s Land Rights For Women In Rural Montserrado in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism appeared first on FrontPageAfrica.