The African Gender Award 2011, initiated by the NGO Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) through its Pan-African Centre for Gender, Peace and Development (PAC) was on Friday June 2011 awarded to Liberia and its President Ellen Johnson-Sir leaf.
The was presented to the Liberian president during a reception held at Meriden President Hotel in the Senegalese capital Dakar. The ceremony brought together a cross section of delegates from across the world.
The African Gender Award 2011, initiated by the NGO Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) through its Pan-African Centre for Gender, Peace and Development (PAC).

The Liberian leader African Gender Award represents a moment of celebration which acknowledges and rewards an African leader and her country’s extraordinary input in gender mainstreaming according to the principles defined by the Solemn Declaration on Equality between Men and Women (SDGEA) adopted by the Head of State and government Assembly at the African Union third ordinary session, in Addis-Ababa in July 2004.
She was selected by a Selecting Committee chaired by Honorable Ambassador Gertrude Mongella, former Pan African chairperson. Through this award the PAC acknowledges H.E Madame Johnson-Sirleaf’s commitment and achievements that consist of women’s rights protection, the important presence of women in politics and in the judiciary field, free education for children and the creation of a fund, Market Women Fund. Besides, the PAC pays tribute to Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf efforts, as the first African president of the country, in women’s rights protection in Liberia through setting up international conventions.
In receiving the award, Mrs. John sir leaf applauded the brave Liberian women who have been taking care children during the war the West African state. ‘I want to commend brave Liberian women who were taking care the children, at the time when men were fighting the war’ she stated.
She further expressing delight for receiving the award, adding that it is dedicated to Liberian people especially the women.
Through this award, the Pan African Development Center (PAC) wished to acknowledge the progress made by Liberia in providing ‘genuinely’ free education to the children of poor Liberian women and also establishing women market fund. Also, it recognized the efforts of Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female President of the country, in protecting women rights in Liberia by implementing international conventions for the protection of women’s rights in Liberia, such as United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.


Free education for girls
In 2005, Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf created the Fund specially allocated to Education in Liberia and launched a scholarship program for women and girls, to enable them to attend secondary and post secondary schools. In 2006, the Liberian government launched the law on Education, National policy on girls’ education or schooling, and a year later, the free access and mandatory Primary School Education.
Violence against women
In 2007, the secretary of Sexist Violence in Liberia created a National Action Plan. The same year, The Gender and Development Ministry organized several sensitization and seminar workshops on the need to fight violence on women. Liberia has also ratified the Facultative Protocol on women related to Child’s rights, to stop the involvement of children in armed conflicts.
Besides, the Liberian government took efficient measures to systematically forbid the treat of women and girls through Anti Trafficking Task Force, which was accountable to development and the implementation of a National Plan to put an end to Human Trafficking.
Previous awardees
The African Gender Award first edition held on May 2, 2005 rewarded both actions of President Wade from Senegal and President Mbeki from South Africa in favor of gender equality and women’s rights promotion within the African Union.
The second edition awarded H.E. Mr Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, thanks to his efforts to integrate women in the reconstruction process after the Rwandan genocide. In 2009, the award was conferred to Mozambique and its leader, H.E. President Armando E. Guebuza, praising his commitment to ethic and gender equality promotion in a sustainable development perspective through the integration of women in the national policies and in the decision making instances.