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Is Liberia's Sirleaf really standing up for women?

President Sirleaf's promise to campaign for women candidates in Liberia's upcoming elections comes too little, too late.

By Robtel Neajai Pailey and Korto Reeves Williams
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Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Paris in 2012.

Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Paris in 2012. Photo: Lemouton Stephane/ABACA/PA Images. All rights reserved.

In a public statement in August, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – Africa's first woman elected head of state – vowed to campaign actively for female candidates running in presidential and legislative elections in October. While her pronouncement may appear praiseworthy, it is too little, too late.

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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0