Angie Brooks International Center Launched

Sunday, 8th March 2009

Monrovia, Liberia - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has broken grounds for the construction of the Angie Brooks International Center for Women’s Research, Peace and Security.

The launch of the Center, held on March 8 at the Fendell campus of the University of Liberia, brought together women world leaders attending the International Colloquium on Women’s Empowerment, Leadership, Peace and Security in Monrovia. Having served as the first and only female president of the United Nations General Assembly, the late Angie Brooks was a trailblazer of international acclaim.

In remarks, President Johnson Sirleaf described the Center as “an intensity for peace, security and gender equity.” She said the Center should be seen as “a mechanism through which women can work towards the achievements of the Colloquium.” The Liberian leader finally called for the establishment of the Chief Suacoco International Center for Peace. Chief Suacoco, first female traditional chief in Liberia, was described by President Sirleaf as an inspiration to the late Angie Brooks.
 
The Center’s work will focus on women’s political, economic and legal empowerment; women’s leadership, international peace and security; and research and a documentation. The Center will also conduct extensive research on women’s achievements, advocacy, partnership and network. The project is being supported by the African Women’s Development Fund, the African Union, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson, among others.

During a ceremony held at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex, venue of the International Women’s Colloquium, Ambassador Anneli Vuorinen described the Liberian leader as a source of inspiration to women around the world. She pledged to strengthen Finnish-Liberian relations during her tour of duty. The President spoke about cordial relations between Liberia and Finland and expressed the hope that the relationship would continue to grow. 

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