Rabat, Morocco June 19, 2025 – In a powerful address at the 3rd edition of the Women Summit on the theme, “A New World, New Stakes for Africa: Women Leading Innovation, Equity and Sustainability,” the Second Lady of Liberia, Madam Synleseh Stephenie Dahn Koung, underscored the urgent need for inclusive and implementable policies and empowerment of marginalized groups, particularly women and girls living with disabilities.
Speaking to esteemed officials and leaders from across Africa on Wednesday in Morocco’s city of Casablanca, the Second Lady emphasized that inclusion is not merely a policy choice but a moral imperative. “African women are the backbone of our societies, innovators, peacebuilders, and agents of change,” she stated. “Yet, among us there is a group often overlooked: women and girls living with disabilities.”
With over one billion people worldwide living with disabilities—60% of whom are women and girls—these demographics face heightened risks of abuse and economic exclusion. Through her work as Executive Director of the Group of 77, an organization dedicated to empowering persons with disabilities in Liberia, she shared transformative initiatives aimed at addressing these disparities.
Under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s leadership, the Liberian government has prioritized disability rights and inclusive policy dialogues. The Second Lady highlighted several key initiatives, including the reactivation of monthly food rations for over 2,000 vulnerable families, the renovation of the Group of 77 headquarters to enhance accessibility, and the launch of vocational training programs designed to empower women economically.
Perhaps most notably, the Second Lady announced a groundbreaking new facility in Kpekor Town, Liberia, which is set to provide housing, rehabilitation, and education for hundreds of individuals and their children, many of whom come from the most vulnerable slum communities.
“Through their voices and shared experiences, we developed national priority areas that focus on health, education, social protection, and empowerment & inclusion,” she noted, calling for urgent action to ensure these women gain access to necessary services and opportunities.
The upcoming launch of the ‘EMPOWER-HER’ initiative, which aims to equip over 200 women and girls with disabilities with vocational skills such as tailoring and soap making, reflects a commitment to actionable change. “When a woman earns, she contributes, and when she creates, she leads,” the Second Lady remarked.
Recognizing the remarkable impact of Liberia’s first female president, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, she called for a renewed focus on breaking down barriers that limit women’s voices in leadership. “When women rise, nations rise, and the world pays attention,” she affirmed.
In conclusion, the Second Lady urged attendees at the summit to commit to actionable measures that can pave the way for a stronger and more inclusive Africa. “Let this summit not be just a gathering but a launching pad for action where no woman is invisible, and every innovation includes the marginalized,” she declared.
As Liberia champions the empowerment of women and girls, particularly those with disabilities, this commitment reinforces a collective vision for a prosperous and equitable future for all Africans.
During the ceremony, the Liberian Second Lady was certificated for her inspiring contribution to sustainable development, inclusion, and empowerment, and received an UBUNTU AWARDS all under the honorary presidency of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem.
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