Working with Gender Lenses in Liberia

Since November 2003, I have been wearing gender lenses for my work. I was the first female UN Volunteer to arrive in the mission - and, coincidentally, also the first member of staff with the Office of the Gender Adviser of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). So I set up the office. Another UNV Sandra Okoed, who stayed until May 2004, joined me two weeks later and we worked together for three months as the only staff members in the Office of the Gender Adviser. Since gender is a cross-cutting issue, my assignment entails working with a variety of mission personnel such the Military, Military Observers, Civilian Police Officers, Human Rights Officers, DDRR Officers, Electoral Officers and Legal/Judicial Officers to ensure that a gender perspective is incorporated into UNMIL polices, procedures and programmes.