By Saio Marrah
The Deputy Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Buaki Bindi Hindowa, has disclosed that the Ministry has developed a Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Bill which is awaiting cabinet approval. The minister made the statement at the weekly Ministry of Information and Communication press briefing in Freetown, on Thursday 8 July 2021.
“As a ministry, we are dealing with the empowerment bill of 2021. The ministry and its partners are at an advanced stage in the development of the bill,” he noted.
He explained the ministry’s role in the development, implementation and monitoring of policies and legal framework of issues relating to women and children below the age of 18, taking the necessary action to achieve full participation of women in development and addressing issues of violence against them and children
“As a ministry [Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs] we are dealing with the empowerment bill of 2021. The ministry and its partners at an advanced stage in the development of the gender bill and equality,” he noted.
He further disclosed the content of the bill: “This bill will include political empowerment (appointive and elective), economic empowerment through access to finance especially credit; employment among others.” he disclosed.
According to him, the bill when approved by cabinet will bring enormous shift in the empowerment of both men and women in the country. He said the process will be completed by the end of this year.
In another development, the minister said they are currently working on the review of the 2007 Child Rights Act, which has been approved by cabinet and that the process will be completed by the end of this year. This review, he said will look into various issues including the harmonization of age of marriage and expand the composition of harmful practices to include female genital mutilation (FGM).
He also pointed out that the Adoption Act of 1989 which was revised in 2010 was said to be inconclusive but revealed the ministry and its partners are in an advanced stage of the Adoption Bill which will incorporate the Hague Convention and other best practices for adoption. He also stated the bill will be ready by the end of 2021.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 12/07/21
