The President of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) has called for urgent legal reforms to ensure women’s reproductive security and gender-inclusive governance as Liberia faces mounting climate change challenges. Speaking under the theme “Women, Climate, and Conflict: Advancing Gender Reproductive-Security and the Rule of Law in a Changing Climate”, the LNBA President emphasized that climate change in Liberia is not only an environmental issue, but also a serious threat to human security, the rule of law, and gender justice.
The remarks were delivered during a high-level forum hosted by development partners and stakeholders working on climate and gender justice. The LNBA noted that as climate effects like seasonal flooding, coastal erosion, and agricultural stress become more visible, women are disproportionately affected. Shrinking arable land and competition over natural resources have already begun to spark local conflicts. In such crises, women are often hit hardest, bearing the burden of food and water insecurity while being more vulnerable to gender-based violence, exploitation, and restricted access to reproductive healthcare.
Despite these risks, the LNBA stressed, women remain vastly underrepresented in climate governance, security dialogue, and resource decision-making.
Call for Stronger Legal Frameworks. To respond effectively, the Bar Association proposed key legal reforms:Equitable land and inheritance rights for women. Effective enforcement of laws against gender-based violence, especially in climate-displaced areas.Transparent environmental governance involving women in consultation and accountability processes.Community-level conflict resolution tailored to women’s needs.
The LNBA President stated that “gender reproductive-security” during climate emergencies must be prioritized. This includes access to maternal health services, contraception, and protection from gender-based violence—not as privileges, but as legal rights.
Commitments of the Bar Association
The LNBA pledged to: Promote public education on women’s environmental and gender rights. Partner with civil society to monitor climate violations.Strengthen legal aid for vulnerable women. Train lawyers in environmental and reproductive-security law.
The LNBA President concluded by asserting that lawyers play a vital preventive role in addressing resource-based tensions before they escalate into political crises. “A climate-resilient Liberia must be a gender-just Liberia,” he said.
He reaffirmed the Bar’s commitment to collaborate on legal solutions that uphold reproductive security, empower women, and integrate climate justice into the broader framework of the rule of law.
Author: Melvin Jackson
