Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says Liberia should be ashamed that women occupy only 11 of the 103 seats in the National Legislature — warning that the imbalance is slowing the country’s development and peacebuilding efforts.

Women’s rights advocates welcomed her remarks, saying the low representation reflects the continued dominance of male political power and the failure to intentionally create more space for women in leadership.

Our gender correspondent, Joyclyn Wea has more.

This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the Investigating Liberia project. Funding was provided by Susan and David Marcinek and the Swedish Embassy in Liberia. Funders had no say in the story’s content.