Opportunity International paid homage to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia and Africa's first elected female head of state, at a special awards ceremony hosted by the organization's Women's Opportunity Network at Le Parker Meridien Hotel in New York today. The International Women's Leadership Award recognized President Sirleaf for her distinguished career over four decades of fighting for freedom, justice and equality both in the private and public domain of Liberia and internationally.

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield says that a women-sponsored legislation calling for the enactment into law the reservation of 30% legislative and political positions for women is unnecessary. Women groups have been battling to enact laws that seek to preserve 30% of all legislative and political posts exclusively for women. After losing a major battle last March in the senate for the passage of a legislation seeking gender equity in political posts, they vowed never to relent.