Infoquest Launches First Quarter Report On Gender-Sensitive Legislative Monitoring Project, Highlights Number Of Recommendations

Infoquest Liberia has officially launched its first Quarter Report on Gender-Sensitive Legislative Monitoring project.

The comprehensive report covers activities in the House of Representatives from January to March 2025.

According to the Executive Director of InfoQuest Liberia Matthias Yeanay, the report represents a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to promote inclusive governance and legislative accountability in Liberia.

Among other things, The report emphasized that women remain significantly underrepresented not just in numbers but also in voice and influence.

In contrast, the report stated that women-led civil society organizations have demonstrated strong, visible advocacy, especially during public hearings on environmental justice and public accountability.

He indicated that as part of their monitoring, InfoQuest conducted gender analyses of six key legislative proposals currently under consideration.

Mr. Yeanay streseed that while some bills reflect a growing awareness of inclusion, others reveal critical gaps and, in some cases and pose direct threats to the rights of marginalized groups, particularly women and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

During the period, the report captured key Bills and Gender Analysis to include, An Act to Establish the Liberia Institute of Sign Language, thus Creating a dedicated institution for sign language education to address the needs of persons with hearing disabilities.

On the issue of gender concern, the report Highlighted the lack of integration with existing education systems which ignores the intersection of gender and disability.

In a move to help address the issue; InfoQuest Liberia wants the Integration of sound Language institute within an existing tertiary institution, such as the University of Liberia, to ensure inclusivity, recognition, and access especially for girls and women with hearing impairments.

The group also pointed out the establishment of the Ministry of Local Government as one of the bills during its reporting period .

The aim among other things is to operationalize decentralization efforts under the 2018 Local Government Act.

As of Gender Concern, the report captures gender mainstreaming without providing an implementation or accountability framework.

InfoQuest wants the Inclusion of gender equity in the university charter promote scholarships for female students, safe housing, and gender-sensitive hiring and governance structures.

The group wants the Incorporation of gender equity audits, maternity leave policies, and enforce non-discriminatory hiring and promotion practices.

At the same time, InfoQuest wants Lawmakers to prioritize meaningful reforms, including the establishment of a salary cap for elected and appointed officials, promoting equity and accountability in public resource management.

Moreover the civil society group wants legislative proposals to include gender-responsive measures to ensure that no demographic group is left behind.

Despite ongoing challenges such as restricted access to committee sessions and political tensions within the Legislature InfoQuest has remained resilient.

InfoQuest he stated that through adaptive strategies and collaborative engagement, continue to pursue inclusive, evidence-based legislative monitoring.

He used the ocassion to appreciate the Embassy of Ireland for its unwavering support and commitment to gender equity and democratic governance.

“Your partnership has been instrumental in advancing this critical work”, he noted.

Mr. Yeanay reaffirm its conviction that inclusive governance is not a distant goal—it is a necessary foundation for Liberia’s democratic growth and sustainable peace.

” We call on government institutions, civil society, development partners, and citizens to stand with us in building a more just, equal, and inclusive Liberia.

During the reporting period, InfoQuest formalized partnerships with key actors in the National Legislature, including the Office of the Speaker and relevant committee chairpersons.

The monitoring he told the press was done by well trained, gender-balanced monitoring team who gained access to plenary sessions, allowing the group to track participation, representation, and the gender dynamics of legislative debates in real time.

He at the same time announced the completion of a comprehensive digital platform, scheduled for public launch this June.

“This platform will provide real-time tracking of legislative processes, bill analyses, and gender-disaggregated data for use by civil society, policymakers, and the public, However, our findings highlight persistent challenges”, he added.

Meanwhile, With the generous support of the Embassy of Ireland in Liberia, InfoQuest team has diligently monitored legislative activities through a gender-sensitive lens.