Julia Duncan-Cassell

Julia Duncan-Cassell (born 1960) is a Liberian politician. She served as minister of gender, children, and social protection from 2012 to 2018, as part of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's second cabinet.

Julia Duncan-Cassell at a conference in the Netherlands in 2014

Biography

Duncan-Cassell was born in 1960. She fled the First Liberian Civil War and settled in the United States.[1] There, she studied business at the University of Phoenix, College of Marin, and Prairie View A&M University. She worked in banking in California before returning to Liberia.[2]

Back in Liberia, Duncan-Cassell became involved in the country's postwar political scene. She was the first woman to serve as superintendent of Grand Bassa County, holding the position for six years, until 2012.[2][3]

In 2012, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed her as minister of gender, children, and social protection.[4][5] She served in the role until 2018, with a brief break from July to October 2017, when she ran a failed campaign to represent Grand Bassa County District #3 in the Liberia House of Representatives.[6][7] As minister, she promoted women's engagement in politics, opposed violence against women, and oversaw care of Ebola orphans during the West African Ebola epidemic.[8][1][9]

Duncan-Cassell is a member of Liberia's Unity Party.[10]

References
  1. Trotta, Tiziana (2017-06-06). ""En la guerra sabes por dónde llega tu enemigo, en la crisis del ébola, no"". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  2. "THE ROLE OF CULTURE IN WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT: POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES" (PDF). UN Women. 2016-03-17.
  3. "Grand Bassa Supt. Promises Youth, Women Empowerment". The New Dawn Liberia. 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  4. "President Sirleaf Commissions New Cabinet; Reiterates Her Commitment to Fighting Corruption". Executive Mansion. 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  5. "A low-key second term". Africa Confidential. 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  6. Geterminah, Hannah N. (2017-10-24). "Ellen Reappoints Duncan Cassell at Ministry of Gender | Liberian Observer". Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  7. "Weah fleshes out cabinet under fire for justice minister". News24. 2018-01-28. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  8. "Legal reform key to increasing women representation in Legislature". The New Dawn Liberia. 2020-09-03. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  9. Butty, James (2015-03-16). "Liberian Minister Touts Progress on Women's Issues". Voice of America. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  10. ""I have no intention to defect -Duncan Cassell". The New Dawn Liberia. 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
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