By Francis Murray
The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs has in a press release announced plans to host the first-ever national women’s conference aimed at developing a national action plan for the implementation of the recently launched Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE) Policy.
The conference, the release noted will contribute to the country realizing goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) aimed at achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.
Scheduled to be organized in collaboration with the 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone and the Women’s Forum from the 18th to 19th March 2021 at the New Brookfields Hotel, the conference will draw participants from across the country representing diverse skills and disciplines for an enriched discussion and an achievable inclusive roadmap.
The Conference will focus on among other things the creation of a platform where women can collectively discuss ideas and issues affecting them, stimulate the debate around the policy action areas in the GEWE Policy, develop a national action plan for the full implementation of the inclusive Policy.
It will also, identify entry points for the finalization of the affirmative action law including the minimum 30 percent quota for women in leadership and decision-making.
Also central to the goal of the conference is to translate the GEWE policy into practice and realize its goal of mainstreaming gender into all national, sectoral, and local policies, plans, budgets, and programmes for the achievement of gender equality and women's empowerment in all spheres of development in Sierra Leone.
The conference will also, provide a space for women and their male allies to discuss issues of importance to them, including boosting women’s political participation, one of the GEWE Policy areas.
The GEWE Policy the release noted identifies thirteen strategic areas for the incorporation of gender education and training, trade, employment, economic development, and social protection, gender-based violence as well as decision-making and political leadership.
It will also focus on health including sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS, the environment and disaster management, media, and access to information and communication technology and innovations.
The official opening will be presided over by Supreme Court Judge Justice Miatta Samba while the Vice President of ECOWAS, Madam Finda Koroma will make a Goodwill Message followed by a two -day panel discussions on various issues relating to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 12/03/21
