The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cllr. Deweh E. Gray, on Friday, September 12, 2025, received the Letters of Accreditation of the new United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative to Liberia, Mr. Mady Biaye, at a brief ceremony held in the conference room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Welcoming Mr. Biaye to Liberia, Deputy Foreign Minister Gray reaffirmed the Government of Liberia’s commitment to advancing the status of women, promoting their rights, and ensuring their active participation in national decision-making processes. She assured the new UNFPA Country Representative of the Foreign Ministry’s full support in helping him carry out a productive and rewarding tenure in Liberia.

“We are delighted to welcome you and look forward to strengthening our partnership with UNFPA in addressing critical gender and population issues. Liberia remains committed to ensuring that women and girls are given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to national development,” Cllr. Gray stated.

She encouraged Mr. Biaye to continue forging strong partnerships with relevant government ministries and agencies, particularly line ministries, to enhance the impact of UNFPA’s programs in the country.

Drawing from her past experience as President of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), she recalled productive collaborations with UNFPA on programs focused on women’s rights, access to justice, and legal reforms. She noted that under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), government continues to prioritize the fight against violence affecting women and girls.

“Despite the challenges, Liberia is making tremendous strides in addressing gender-related issues and will continue to partner with international organizations like UNFPA to ensure that the rights and dignity of women and girls are upheld,” she added.

For his part, the new UNFPA Country Representative, Mr. Mady Biaye, commended the Government of Liberia for the significant progress it has made in promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality. He praised Liberia for passing critical legislations and implementing programs that protect the rights of women and girls across all 15 counties.

Mr. Biaye assured Deputy Minister Gray that UNFPA remains committed to working closely with the Government of Liberia to support its initiatives in tackling issues affecting women, adolescents, and girls. He pledged to build on the strong foundation laid by his predecessor, while identifying new priority areas for support.

The accreditation ceremony concluded with renewed commitments from both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNFPA to deepen collaboration in advancing gender equality, protecting women’s rights, and promoting inclusive national development.

The UNFPA, established by the United Nations General Assembly, is the UN’s lead agency mandated to improve reproductive and maternal health, address population and development issues, and promote the empowerment and protection of women and girls across the world.