By Francis H Murray
The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs Manty Tarawally has said that President Bio's appointment of women into cabinet positions represent 18.5% of total appointments exceeding the stated goal of the Mid-term National Development Plan.
The minister was speaking on Thursday, 4th March 2021 at the Ministry of Information weekly press Conference in line with this year's International Women’s Day observed on Monday.
She said the country continues to make progress in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment under the Bio administration which continues to empower women in the political front by appointing them to key decision making positions.
She however admitted that there's a shortfall in parliamentary representation of women which is only 12.3%.
Giving a background to the celebration of International Women’s Day in Sierra Leone, the minister explained that the country started observing the event in 1995, adding that in 2013 the Government of Sierra Leone officially declared March 8 a public holiday largely characterized by nationwide media sensitization and public advocacy events rotationally held in district and provincial headquarter towns.
Madam Tarawally said every year women around the world come together to celebrate the International Day of Women and assess the progress, opportunities, and challenges faced by women in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres of life.
She maintained that in Sierra Leone, it is on this day women ask their male counterparts to join them reflect on the gains made and the challenges women continue to face so that they can collectively address them.
The minister noted that the theme for this year is aligned with UN Women's new multi- generational campaign - the “generation equality” as this marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and platform for action.
On this year’s locally coined theme “Wit Boku Uman Dem Nar Pawa Wi Go Dreb Corona En Bil Bak Betteh Salone” - meaning with many women in positions of authority we will eliminate Corona and rebuild Sierra Leone'',
she cited the role of women in the health sector especially those in the frontline of the fight against Corona as health workers, care givers, innovators, community organizers, while some are the most exemplary and effective national leaders in combating the pandemic.
She maintained that the crisis, among many other indicators, has highlighted both the centrality and contribution of women and the disproportionate burdens they carry.
She stressed that in a bid to further uphold the rights of women during this pandemic, her ministry has assigned a Gender Adviser to NaCOVERC to ensure women and girls' concerns are mainstreamed at all stages of the pandemic response.
“As a government, we value the contributions of women in society and a gender lens has given us the drive for more acceptance than ever before that women bring different experiences, perspectives and skills to the table and make irreplaceable contributions to decisions, policies and laws that work better for all of us,” she stated.
The minister explained that the male involvement strategy is an approach that uses men and boys as allies and gender advocates while also recognizing that they too can be victims.
The approach, she maintained, is being implemented across the country by their partners including FINE-SL, Youth Council Leaders amongst others, adding that government has also ensured the integration of comprehensive sexuality education into the formal basic education school curriculum at all levels.
She also explained that her ministry has established the 116 rape hotline that is free from any network, describing it as a life line for any person requiring support after being sexually assaulted with one-stop centers established across six districts in the country where all services ranging from medical assessment and report, to legal services are free.
|
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 10/03/21 |
