By Marilyn King
FREETOWN, March 22nd, (SALONE TIIMES) – Women in Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs in partnership with the 50/50 Group and Women’s Forum Sierra Leone on Thursday 18th March 2021 met to launch the National Women’s Conference at the Brookfield’s Hotel in Freetown.
The theme for the gathering was “Promoting Gender equality and women’s empowerment in Sierra Leone” called on the authority to make gender equality and women’s empowerment a right for all by employing, appointing and electing women in all sectors.
The Chairperson of the National Women’s Conference, Valnora Edwin-Awlyn said that in addressing gender inequality and creating access for the vulnerable, one of the key issues they need to consider in their interventions is to understand that women are not a homogenous group.
She noted that unfortunately women continue to struggle for recognition, protection and simply having access to the basics-education, adequate health care, “acknowledging and respecting our talents and skills, knowledge and exceptional attribute of multitasking caregivers, mothers, teachers, cooks Professionals, skills workers.’’
She furthered that there could be some experiences they share, but there are completely different experiences that need to be acknowledged and addressed distinct from others, there are widows, single mothers, elderly women (70 and above) women with disability, rural and urban women
She continued that women in border communities, educated and uneducated, housewives and professionals and they all experience their own share of discrimination and challenges but in diverse ways.
The Minister of Gender and Children Affairs, Hon. Manty Tarawali, said that they had held many women’s meetings, and have many policies, many agreements that people have made. Commitments have also has been made to women but no responses have been given.
She identified six ministries where they will send Gender experts so that they will see the implementation of the GEWE Policy because Gender cuts across all the ministries.
She also said that each ministry will get Gender experts at all different levels that will sit with the top ministers and make sure gender issues are implemented in the ministries.
EU Deputy Head of Delegation, Jamila El Assaidi in her remarkssaid that one of the priorities which they will further discuss was how to increase women’s participation in politic life. She furthered that the EU places Human Rights at the centre of its relations with all third world countries, while firmly based on universal norms. The EU’s policy on human rights, she said is adapted to the circumstances of each country, not least through the development of our country specific human rights strategies.
She noted that specifically, the EU budget finances an instrument for democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) designed to support civil society to become an effective force for political reform and defence of human rights.
She concluded that in that respect, they proudly joined forces with the 50\50 Group and search for Common Ground for a project to empower women who are interested in pursuing political representation at local and national levels to be effective political actors in Sierra Leone.
Delivering the Key note address, Hon. Justice Miatta Maria Samba of the Supreme Court, said that the conference gives women the opportunity to meet as women in the society, to collectively put their ideas and resources to ensures effective implementation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy (GEWE) which was launched by the President Julius Maada Bio in December last year.
She furthered that even before independence, women of Sierra Leone face lots of challenges, and they were not allowed to speak in public forum, when they have the right to speak everywhere.
She also said she has looked at the general position of women in Sierra Leone before independence and women liked to sit at the back when the men are in front, women should always be proud of themselves whenever they are in public with Men and it a Gender Equality.
She noted that they need more women in politics, in parliament, and in the ministries; women have the right to go for what they want.
