It wasnt any easy thing to do during the civil rights movement. On july 26, 1847, liberia declared itself a free sovereign nation. Nobel peace prize winner, author, and peace activist, leymah gbowee, shares the lifechanging events of 2003. Its an incredibly uplifting story that explains the role liberian women played. It is estimated that women made up over 30% of the fighting force, playing roles as commanders, spies, cooks and. Peace because the film is really about all the aspects of fighting for peace. Leymah gbowee and abigail disney shoot for peace in liberia. Jan 05, 2012 a champion of women s empowerment around the world, leymah gbowee is an african peace activist often credited with aiding the cessation of the second liberian civil war in 2003 through her. Peace huts work for gender equality, peace and human rights. Then, in 2011, peace activists around the world were thrilled to see a trio of heroic womentawakkol karman of yemen, leymah gbowee of liberia and ellen johnson sirleaf of liberiareceive the nobel peace prize for their nonviolent struggle for the safety of women and for womens rights to full participation in peacebuilding work.
The film follows the story of the liberian womens peace movement, women of liberia mass action for peace, which brought together women. When we started our peace movement in liberia in the heat of the civil war in 2003, we were called toothless bulldogs. Its a new film that tells the story of the women who helped bring peace to liberia. Liberian womens political activism continued in the aftermath of the accra peace accord through the period leading to 2005 elections, which brought ellen johnson sirleaf to the presidency. The film follows the story of the liberian womens peace movement, women of liberia mass action for peace, which brought together women from liberia s capital, monrovia. Gbowee is currently building women, peace and security africa, a women s organization in ghana that will act to build relationships across the west african sub region in support of women s. Liberian women act to end civil war, 2003 global nonviolent. Oct 31, 2011 liberian peace activist and nobel peace prize winner leymah gbowee praises liberia for how far it has come since the civil war days of a decade ago, but warns that tribalism still divides her country. This celebrated documentary tells the dramatic success story of the womens peace movement of liberia, where christian and muslim women banded together. Liberia coordinates and networks between womens organisations. Peace huts in liberia are instrumental in teaching women including those not formally educated about these rights.
Liberia experienced conflict between 1989 and 1997 and again between 1999 and 2003. She was born on february 01, 1972 48 years old in liberia as leymah roberta gbowee. Liberia women national political forum consist of specialized women organizations, working to achieve increased representation of women in leadership. The liberian womens peace campaign grew from several hundred woman at the outset to thousands more women as the campaign continued. For each strategic issue the liberian nap gives a set of priority areas with outputs that translate into actions. Thousands of muslim and christian women from various classes mobilized. The film details a nonviolent movement by liberian women who sought peace during the countrys civil war in 2003. Leymah gbowee received the nobel peace prize in 2011 for her work in leading a womens peace movement that brought an end to the second liberian civil war in 2003. Mar 23, 2020 when we started our peace movement in liberia in the heat of the civil war in 2003, we were called toothless bulldogs. Leymah gbowee led women to end the liberian civil war. Nobel peace prize winner to discuss liberian womens. The film shows how ordinary liberian women from all walks of life united in their common hope that the war would end, used a variety of protest and civil. This case study demonstrates how the religiouslyinspired peace movement buttressed peace talks, supported unled.
Nov 18, 2008 film chronicles liberian women s peace movement. When i went to liberia in 2004, i saw signs posted all over proclaiming slogans of peace and the name of the women in peacebuilding network wipnet. Liberian women demonstrate at the american embassy in monrovia in the. Sex strikes and the recent history of global feminist protest.
Religion and conflict case study series ending liberias. Pray the devil back to hell portrays how the women of. These signs sprouted amid the rubble that marked the path of fighting during the civil war. Documentary showcases womens role in ending liberias civil war. Produced by marissa rhodes and elizabeth garner masarik.
After the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement in accra on the 18 th august 2003, the womens movement insisted on taking part in the monitoring of the peace process. And from that dream the liberian mass action for peace, a movement of ordinary christian and muslim women, rose up to help put an end to liberia s civil war. The mobilization remained important and the organization actively participated in the election of the first african female president, ellen johnson sirleaf. The film follows the story of the liberian womens peace movement, women of liberia mass action for peace, which brought together women from liberias capital, monrovia. The desire for peace, however, was so strong that the womens peacebuilding movement soon transcended religious lines. Leymah roberta gbowee is a liberian peace activist responsible for leading a women s peace movement that helped bring an end to the second liberian civil war in 2003. Twelve small actions with big impact for generation equality. But we proved that womens active participation in a peace process can make a significant difference in the effectiveness and longevity of peace agreements. It s an incredibly uplifting story that explains the role liberian women played in restoring peace to their country.
Sex striking is a method of passive resistance, a form of peaceful protest, and something attempted by american indians in the early modern era, first wave feminists in europe and america, bolshevik women in the 1920s, chinese women in the 1940s, and perhaps most famously, by the women of liberia mass action for peace in the early 2000s. For example, under pillar 3, participation and empowerment, strategic issue 1 government promotes womens full participation in all conflict prevention, peace building and postconflict recovery processes at community, county, national and subregional levels the. A group of women rise up to peace to liberia and help bring to power the countrys first. The womens peace movement led sitins and prayins demanding peace talks and reconciliation during the civil war, and its founder leymah gbowee went on to jointly win the 2011 nobel prize for. Upon the election, the liberian women for peace officially concluded their mass action campaign and ended their gatherings at. Meet nobel peace laureate leymah gbowee, nobel womens. Over the next two years, the women of liberia mass action for peace group aided the government in bringing about democratic elections. We are tired of the killing of our people and we, the women of liberia, want peace now pray the devil back to hell 2008. Panelists included leymah roberta gbowee, executive director of the women peace and security network africa and founder of the women in peacebuilding network wipnet, juanita jarrett, founding member of the mano river womens peace network marwopnet, and waafas ofosuamaah, senior gender specialist at the world bank.
Oct 08, 2011 as head of the women for peace movement, she was praised for mobilizing women across ethnic and religious dividing lines to bring an end to the long war that had raged for years in liberia. Nobel peace prize awarded to ellen johnson sirleaf, leymah. Liberian women s fight for peace brought to film during the recent decadelong civil war in liberia, many factions within the west african nation tried to bring an end to the violence. They registered voters and set up polling stations. According to the united nations, some 40,000 women were raped during the conflict in 2011, liberias population was estimated at 4. See more ideas about liberia, west africa and liberia africa. The liberian federation of womens organisations university of liberia, monrovia. Liberian women hold mass fast for peaceful elections the. Liberian womens fight for peace brought to film during the recent decadelong civil war in liberia, many factions within the west african nation tried to bring an end to the violence.
Best books of 2017 selection by the washington post new york post the harrowing, but triumphant story of ellen johnson sirleaf, leader of the liberian women s movement, winner of the nobel peace prize, and the first democratically elected female president in african history. Sep 08, 2016 the liberian womens extraordinary struggle for peace is the subject of an intense documentary film, pray the devil back to hell, one in a series of documentaries about women throughout. Nobel peace prize winner to discuss liberian womens campaign. On april 23, 2007, the united states institute of peace and the initiative for inclusive security coorganized a meeting of the liberia working group to discuss the role that women have played in achieving and maintaining peace in liberia and the challenges and opportunities of participating in the reconstruction of the country. It was formed when freed slaves from america returned to africa at the end of the u.
The first ship, the elizabeth, departed new york on february 6, 1820, for west africa carrying 86 settlers. Between 1821 and 1838, the american colonization society developed the first settlement, which would be known as liberia. Gbowee shared the prize with fellow liberian ellen johnson sirleaf and yemennative tawakkol karman. Kevin conley meets the visionary pair who reached across continents and cultures to show just how powerful womens voices can be. Leymah gbowee inspired a womens movement that ended liberias second civil war and led to africas first elected female president. This was the first time it is being screened for the public in liberia. Last month, three women won the prize, including leymah gbowee and president ellen johnson sirleaf along with tawakkul karman in yemen who fought for womens rights and helped achieve peace in wartorn liberia. The women locked down the peace hall, determined that no one would come out until the peace agreement was signed, even if it meant staying there for days. Womens role in liberian history following the screening of the very well documented and selfexplanatory film, pray the devil back to hell, concerning womens role throughout the war and their participation in the peace process, the objective of the conference was to discuss how womens participation in liberias history inspired them to lead their country to peace. Leymah gbowee loves to talk about the power of women. Unsung heroines of liberia, making guns yield to words.
A womens peace movement in liberia boston university. The instability of liberia for the last thirty years is at the heart of the action of womens groups, and women have played a significant role in peace efforts surrounding liberias two civil wars. Nov 10, 2011 written by megan kearns men often dominate the debate of war, negotiation and even peace. Liberia ranks 90 out of 193 for female representation. Women wage peace was founded in the summer of 2014 in the aftermath of operation protective edge. The role of women in ending liberias civil war wikiprogress.
In the five years since her womens rights activism earned her a nobel peace prize, the liberian activist has crisscrossed the world sharing. The remarkable story of the courageous liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country. Womens rights in liberia international federation for. May 23, 20 after the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement in accra on the 18 th august 2003, the womens movement insisted on taking part in the monitoring of the peace process.
Women helped to end the second liberian civil war with the mass action for peace movement in 2003 led by leymah gbowee. Wwp is the largest grassroots movement in israel whose purpose is to promote a political agreement to resolve the israelipalestinian conflict. While peace finally did come, the legacy of violence against women continues to. Film chronicles liberian womens peace movement national. Pray the devil back to hell is a documentary that tells the story of women of liberia mass action for peace, a womens peace movement in liberia that eventually ended the second liberian civil war 19992003 fought between the army controlled by thenpresident charles taylor and the rebelling forces loyal to a variety of warlords. On november 23, 2005, the liberian people elected their countrys first female president, ellen johnson sirleaf.
The activist who organized liberian women to end civil war. The subsequent discussion was moderated by molly wallace ma06, phd10, a visiting lecturer in political science who taught the film earlier this semester in pols 60. How nobel peace prize winner leymah gbowee unified. Pray the devil back to hell roco films educational. Unsung heroines in a documentary about the liberian civil war. United nations, july 2010 liberia it was a country engulfed in war, its women bearing the brunt of the conflict.
Their story will inspire all who work to bring an end to war and violence around the world. This important documentary sheds light on the womens peace movement of liberia, and celebrates these unsung heroes. The proportion of female journalists in the liberian media increased from per cent in 2010 to 22 per cent in 2014. Pray the devil back to hell 2008 directed by gini reticker usa and produced by abigail disney. The role women have played in liberian politics has been substantial. Jan 22, 2009 liberian women s fight for peace brought to film during the recent decadelong civil war in liberia, many factions within the west african nation tried to bring an end to the violence. An estimated 250,000 people died in liberias civil war, which began in 1989 and lasted until 2003about a century and a half after the country was founded by freed slaves from the united states and the caribbean. The women of liberia, including the internally displaced people, are tired of war. Womens role in liberias reconstruction united states. Leymah gbowee charles taylor liberia context with lorna. How women bring about peace and change in liberia thousands of liberian women have banded together to bring about peace and to fight for womens rights.
A perfect antidote to the hardhitting johnny mad dog is retickers pray the devil back to hell, a documentary about the liberian womens peace movement, which was known as the women of liberia mass action for peace. Radio stations have been promoting this for the last several days and many liberians came to the samuel k. In most parts of the world women have, historically, been active agitators for peace during times of war and violence. Leymah gbowee is head of liberian mass action for peace, an organization. Written by megan kearns men often dominate the debate of war, negotiation and even peace. Sep 23, 2019 i lived here for 17 yearsthe best time of my life. Women of liberia mass action for peace is a peace movement started in 2003 by women in monrovia, liberia, africa, that worked to end the second liberian civil war. Sirleaf was to share the nobel peace prize in 2011 with gbowee. The womens campaign survived despite great hardships, including threat of violence, and lasted until the democratic elections were over and their goal was met. Many other womens groups played a significant role in the peacemaking process, protesting in liberia during taylors presidency and then again in ghana during the final 2003 peace agreements. Pray the devil back to hell chronicles the remarkable story of the liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered. Kevin conley meets the visionary pair who reached across continents and cultures to. This movement toward peace has become an iconic representation of the role. From the historical out look of liberia in the setting of women rights, is a global phenomenon that cuts across geographical, cultural and political boundaries and varies only in its manifestations and severity.
Women rights in liberia international federation for. A brutal look at liberian war from womens viewpoint is unique and often powerful. Featuring leymah gbowee, human rights advocate and. Defy a dictator, end a war, return her native liberia to peace. Liberian women national political forum home facebook. Liberian peace activist and nobel peace prize winner leymah gbowee praises liberia for how far it has come since the civil war days of a decade. And from that dream the liberian mass action for peace, a movement of ordinary christian and muslim women, rose up to help put an. The film documents a peace movement called women of liberia mass action for peace.
This movement didnt last very long, but it resulted in a country with a constitution, a democracy, and a name. She was responsible for leading a women s peace movement. Tonight the film pray the devil back to hell about the liberian womens peace movement responsible for ending the brutal 14year civil war wasshown. Gender violence has existed from time immemorial and. Documentary celebrates liberian womens peace initiative. Organized by crystal roh gawding and social workers leymah gbowee and comfort freeman, the movement began despite liberia having extremely limited civil rights. An israeli patrol boat struck a boat carrying medical volunteers and supplies to gaza early tuesday as it attempted to intercept the vessel in the mediterranean sea, witnesses and israeli officials said. A perfect antidote to the hardhitting johnny mad dog is reticker s pray the devil back to hell, a documentary about the liberian women s peace movement, which was known as the women of liberia mass action for peace. Muslim women joined the cause with as much passion and devotion as the christian women. Nov 07, 2008 unsung heroines of liberia, making guns yield to words. The 2011 nobel peace prize winner is speaking out in a new pbs series. And from that dream the liberian mass action for peace, a movement of ordinary christian and muslim women, rose up.
196 648 1120 1535 341 1459 674 1123 399 341 993 1161 1378 600 803 814 179 220 1017 399 606 1239 698 167 944 844 1199 1056 1032 113 662 81 48 363 785 1310 361 854 613 943 871 128 1181