Othello Sarweh Nimely
Monrovia-Female lawmakers in Liberia have called for greater public awareness of their legislative activities and contributions to national development, saying more visibility is needed to help citizens understand the work women are doing in the country.
The call was made during a day dialogue with media stakeholders aimed at strengthening collaboration between female lawmakers and journalists.
The meeting held recently in Monrovia brought together members of the Women Legislative Caucus, former female legislators, media practitioners among others, to discuss ways of improving coverage of issues affecting women and girls, as well as the work of women lawmakers.
Members of the Caucus said they want the public to better understand their legislative responsibilities, achievements and contributions to national development.
They emphasized that the media plays a critical role in giving visibility to women in leadership and helping citizens understand how legislative decisions are made.
According to the lawmakers, consistent and balanced media coverage can also help highlight issues affecting women and girls and create greater public engagement around legislation and national policies.
While acknowledging the importance of increased coverage, journalists at the meeting also raised concerns about access to female lawmakers.
Some reporters said they have encountered difficulties obtaining comments or information from lawmakers, particularly when seeking their views on important national issues.
They cited instances where repeated attempts to reach some female legislators for interviews or comments were unsuccessful.
The journalists challenged female lawmakers to become more accessible and responsive to the media if they want their views, legislative initiatives and accomplishments to receive greater public attention.
For the journalists, improving media visibility cannot be a one-sided responsibility. They said lawmakers must also make themselves available to explain their positions and respond to questions from the public through the press.
The Women encouraged journalists to make greater efforts to pursue stories involving women and to provide consistent coverage on girls in the communities.
Participants agreed that stronger communication between lawmakers and journalists could help bridge the information gap between the Legislature and the public.
At the end of the dialogue, both parties agree to work together for the betterment of the Liberian society.
Both sides therefore left the meeting with a shared responsibility, lawmakers must open their doors to the press, while journalists must continue to seek out and fairly report on the work of women in Liberia’s Legislature.
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