AFELL GOES TO ELECTIONS TODAY……As Candidates Envision Robust Litigation for Women, others
By: Jerromie S. Walters
LYNCH STREET, Monrovia: As demonstrated once after every two (2) years, the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia is expected to conduct it’s general elections today in Monrovia.
The general membership of AFELL with enthusiasm filled a room late Thursday evening, to critic and analyze platforms for each of the Candidates vying through a strong debate.
AFELL’s election is expected to be held on Friday, December 10. 2021, at the Association’s Headquarters on Lynch Street in Monrovia.
The election will showcase two candidates in both Presidential and Vice Presidential categories, as well as other elected positions, as the tenure of the Association’s current leadership headed by its President Atty. Vivian Neal approach it’s climax.
Ambitiously prepared ahead of the general elections, Atty Tupee Taylor and Atty Bowoulo Taylor Kelley are both peering as a team for the President and Vice Presidency, disclosed that they essentially endeavor to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of vulnerable groups in the society through advocacy and strategic litigation.
The duo platform, according to them, is in conformity with the objective of the founders of the Association.
Describing the Association current status as girls’s club, Atty Bowoulo assured a new trajectory in the association’s workings, vowing to deliver a decentralized Female Bar Association, instead of what it has been over the years.
Additionally, the female lawyer said the Tupee and Bowoulo administration will institutionalize a digitalized medium of data collection through the creation of a website, specifically for the gathering of information of female lawyers in the Liberian jurisdictions and to ensure the visibility of the association.
During the debates, Atty Philomena Tugbe Williams and Atty Fanta Barclay are both paring on the same team as Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates.
They tailored their platform on integrity, credibility and accountability which takes into account a vibrant advocacy tool for AFELL’S forward match.
As for the first 100days deliverables when elected, Team Tupee Taylor stressed togetherness among female lawyers across Liberia which will be achieved through the launching of a massive outreach initiative aimed at utilizing the professional capacity of members and maintaining network with local and international human rights organizations.
They mentioned that AFELL that their leadership has a first task to ensure Justice for the rape scandal at the Liberian Embassy in Abuja Nigeria. ” We call on the relevant institutions in Liberia to immediately take seized of this matter and bring the perpetrators to Justice”.
The opposing sides envision that a visible AFELL that will continuously champion the rights of women and other vulnerable populations.
AFELL was founded on February 24, 1994, with a mission is to advocate for the promotion, protection, and advancement of the rights of women, children, and indigent persons in society. AFELL is a membership-based organization and has a current membership of 100 members. The Association is also part of the task force on the land rights Bill of Liberia.
Members of AFELL are predominantly lawyers including, attorneys, counselors and as well as female students at the Law school.
