MONROVIA, LIBERIA-Liberia is expected to take on the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council with five key priorities guiding the country’s leadership.

According to Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow-Nyanti, the priorities include women, peace and security, youth, climate, conflict and natural resources.

Minister Beysolow-Nyanti says Liberia’s position is informed by its membership in the Mano River Union, noting that challenges affecting one country often have implications for neighboring states.

The foreign minister assured that while the foreign ministry continues to represent the country at the UN Security Council, sectoral ministries will provide the technical substance for the issues being championed by the country.

She emphasized that Liberia’s Security Council seat is not about an individual or a single ministry, but about the country.

According to her, Liberia intends to use the opportunity to advance issues that matter to its people, Africa and the wider international community.

Meanwhile, Minister Beysolow-Nyanti says Liberia will facilitate several UN Security Council-related events in September as part of efforts to showcase its priorities to the international community.

She says:” The events will provide the platforms for key Liberian government officials to present issues under President Boakai’s vision”.

Minister Beysolow-Nyanti said the Youth and Sports Minister will lead an event on youth, peace and security, while the Minister of Gender will focus on women, peace and security.

According to the foreign minister, the engagements will allow Liberia to present its programs and seek partnerships with countries and international organizations.

She said Liberia’s membership on the UN Security Council presents an opportunity to strengthen international partnerships and demonstrate how the country can contribute to global peace and security discussions.

At the same time, the Youth and Sports Minister, Cornelia Kruah, says Liberia will use its position on the UN Security Council to highlight the role of young people in sustaining the country’s peace.

Minister Kruah said:” My ministry, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will host a side event in September under the theme,” Rooting and Rising: Liberia’s Vision for Youth, Peace, and Security.”

According to her, Liberia’s young people inherited the peace attained through the efforts of Liberian women, and now have the responsibility to protect and sustain that peace for future generations.

She said the event will bring together government officials, UN agencies, international foundations, civil society organizations and members of the Liberian diaspora.

Atty. Kruah said the event will provide an opportunity to showcase Liberia’s experience, while promoting meaningful youth participation in peacebuilding, democratic processes and national development.

Minister Kruah added that sustaining Liberia’s peace requires more than workshops and conferences, stressing the need to economically empower young people, and that the upcoming UN Security Council side event will focus on how young Liberians can move from being passive participants to active contributors to the country’s development.

She said the ministry will use the event to launch its “Rooting and Rising” pathway reform, which is aimed at empowering young people and creating opportunities for them to build themselves and their families”.

The Youth and Sports minister said Liberia will also take a diverse youth delegation to the event, including representatives of statutory youth groups, young people with disabilities, at-risk youth, youth involved in peace and security initiatives, creative-sector youths and members of the Liberian diaspora.

She said:” Liberia will also be seeking new partnerships, noting that the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs and representatives of UNFPA are expected to participate”.

Youth and Sports Minister Cornelia Kruah then added that the engagement will strengthen Liberia’s voice on youth, peace and security internationally.

Also speaking, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Gbeme Horrace-Kollie, says Liberia will use its position on the UN Security Council to showcase the historic role Liberian women have played in peacebuilding.

Minister Horrace-Kollie noted that the ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will host a high-level side event in September under the theme:” From Pioneer to Global Leaders”.

According to her, Liberia’s experience, particularly the grassroots mobilization of women during the country’s civil conflict, has made it a global example of women-led peacebuilding.

Minister Horrace-Kollie said Liberia’s membership in the UN Security Council provides an opportunity to share its experience with the international community, rather than simply seeking lessons from other countries.

She stressed that the event will bring together senior international officials and women peacebuilding advocates to highlight Liberia’s journey and demonstrate what women can contribute to peace, security, and national rebuilding.

The Minister further said Liberia will launch its Third-Generation National Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security during a high-level side event at the UN Security Council.

She said Liberia has successfully implemented its first and second National Action Plan, making the upcoming launch an important milestone in the country’s continued commitment to women’s participation in peace and security.

According to her, the side event will highlight how Liberian women mobilized at the grassroots level to help end the country’s civil conflict.

The event is expected to bring together Liberia’s President, Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow-Nyanti, international ministers, African Union representatives, and other global partners.

The gender minister will also be webcast to allow women and citizens in Liberia to participate.