Washington — Former Liberia President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has said the world would be a safe place if women were in positions of leadership. Her comment was based on what she described as the passion women bring to leadership, a quality that is incomparable to that of men.
“Women bring to every position the same courage, commitment, passion, but we also bring passion that the men don’t have. The passion of the value we share, the passion of the people we believe in, the passion of our family, friends, and that’s where we excel. If women rule the world, we will have such a safe world.”
Speaking in an interview at the ongoing conference held by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), she said, women’s ability to contribute to peace and development is well-documented with immense evidence, indicating their inclusion opens doors for success.
According to her, despite these successes, some countries including many in Africa, have failed to give women the financial, educational, and political resources they need to participate in the highest levels of leadership.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner and former President of Liberia discussed the inspiring persistence of African women in the face of male-dominated societies, the need for women to work collectively across national boundaries, and how African leaders can better promote women’s participation by ensuring gender equality is built into both their policies and practices.
The United States Institute of Peace is a national, nonpartisan, independent institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical, and essential for U.S. and global security.
In conflict zones abroad, the Institute works with local partners to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict. To reduce future crises and the need for costly interventions, USIP works with governments and civil societies to build local capacities to manage conflict peacefully.
The Institute pursues its mission by linking research, policy, training, analysis, and direct action to support those who are working to build a more peaceful, inclusive world.