By Prince Copeland.
Fish Town, River Gee County – The Ministry of National Defense and the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) have launched an awareness campaign to encourage more women to join the Armed Forces of Liberia.
Sergeant Patricia Munah Lincoln said female participation in the AFL is important to strengthening women’s representation in Liberia’s security sector.
Sergeant Lincoln said Liberia is targeting between 15 and 20 percent female representation in the Armed Forces. She said women currently account for 7.4 percent of the AFL.
She said a high school graduate is eligible to apply for recruitment into the Armed Forces. She also said applicants aged 35 years and below are eligible to participate in the recruitment process, subject to other requirements.
Sergeant Lincoln urged women interested in joining the AFL to stay away from narcotics abuse. She said applicants who are found to be involved in narcotics use or related offenses could be disqualified from the recruitment process.
She said the recruitment and awareness process is being supported by UN Women to promote greater participation of women in the Armed Forces and provide them with equal opportunities to serve their country.
Sergeant Lincoln made the statement during an awareness engagement at a radio station in Fish Town. She also met with women at the Fish Town City Hall and other locations in River Gee County.
The female participants welcomed the initiative and expressed appreciation to the Government of Liberia and UN Women for creating opportunities for women to join the Armed Forces.
The women said the awareness campaign would encourage more Liberian women to consider careers in the military.
The engagement forms part of a broader pre-campaign awareness effort aimed at informing women about the recruitment requirements and encouraging qualified females to apply.
The AFL says the initiative is intended to increase female participation and promote greater representation of women within Liberia’s military.