Mr. Williams, speaking during the program, says the world should allow a female to steer the affairs of the United Nations

The orator of this year’s International Women’s Day celebration in Liberia has called on women the world over to strive for parity by ensuring that a female becomes the next United Nations (UN) Secretary General.

Delivering the keynote address at the official indoor program commemorating the day held in Buchannan, Grand Bassa County, the Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA), David Williams, said the world should see reason to allow a female to steer the affairs of the UN for the next four years.

Williams said for decades men have and continue to lead and direct activities of the world towards achieving global peace, security and development, but noted that there are still incidents of war and the continuous murder of women and children.

“Women and children continue to be murdered in cold blood around the world by extremists, and people continue to die from starvation in some places around the world,” Williams said.

He believes that as Liberia moves along with the world towards gender parity, the misplaced notion about women’s roles in society must be replaced by progressive thinking, adding that to do otherwise is to continue to marginalize women and belittle their contributions to the wellbeing of their countries.

Williams maintained that to correct the gender imbalance and to reverse the marginalization of women, it will be necessary for the government of Liberia and the world at large to ensure that women are not treated as personal properties or housekeepers.

He underscored the need for women to be treated and viewed as future leaders by offering them responsibility in society that befits their status and qualification relative to their male counterparts.

“Women voices need to be heard and included into policy-making for economic and political governance of the state,” he noted.

Williams also wants women leaders heading the noble quest and struggle for gender balance to be impartial and stand for the general rights of all women, regardless of class, political connection or religion.

Liberia News Agency