March 17, 2010

WASHINGTON – Leymah Gbowee, a Lutheran from Liberia, spoke to members of Congress here on March 15 about the prevention of violence against women and girls.

Gbowee is the executive director of the Women Peace and Security Network Africa. She also organizes collaborative peace-building initiatives for a network of women peace builders from Liberia. During March 1 -12 she participated in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York and was an attendee at the Women in the World summit on March 12.

"It's important to be here in Washington, D.C., because a lot of decisions that (have a global) impact start from the United States," said Gbowee. "It's high time now that we start bringing real(ly) hard advocacy on women's issues, especially issues that are not primarily United States women's issues but global women's issues, especially women and sexual violence, to the doorstep of the White House, and to the senators and the House of Representatives."

"One of my key purposes is to advocate for the rights of women, especially as it relates to women's involvement in issues of peace and security," Gbowee said.

When the civil war came to Liberia, Gbowee said women took action. "They provided relief; they ensured security between their communities and the warring parties; and they were advocating and doing all these other things for peace," she said.

"Leymah's testimony pointed out the central role women play in all societies and how money through foreign assistance can be well spent when women are involved in the decision-making process," said the Rev. Andrew D. Genszler, director of advocacy, ELCA Washington Office.

According to Mary Streufert, director, ELCA Justice for Women program, "rich connections" were made between Gbowee's work as a Lutheran and the participants in the briefing.

Gbowee's "central points about community building and the connection of listening to women at the grassroots level to respectively promote and maintain peace was important for anyone who does work in foreign aid assistance," said Streufert.

Gbowee also met with staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Her message focused on the need for "restrategizing the Foreign Aid Reform" and requesting that local women be involved in the decision-making process for projects in their communities.

The briefing on Capitol Hill was sponsored by the ELCA Washington Office, Lutheran Office for World Community and the ELCA Justice for Women program.

Information about ELCA Justice for Women program is at http://www.ELCA.org/justiceforwomen/, and ELCA advocacy ministries is at http://www.ELCA.org/advocacy/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service