By Mabinty M. Kamara
The President of Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL), Femi Jarett Coker has called on the government of Sierra Leone to take swift action in the implementation and enforcement of the resolutions contained in the Saly Declaration adopted by government officials, CSOs and media practitioners across West Africa.
The Saly declaration is an aftermath of a three-day engagement held in Saly-Senegal in December 2020 with participants from eleven (11) West African countries such as Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, the Gambia, Mali, Togo, and Liberia on women’s rights to access Information.
Some of the resolutions arrived at according to the declaration was for the governments to set up information and documentation centers (physical and digital) to facilitate access to information for citizens, especially women; and to Decentralize and Digitize access to information that will enhance proper records and data management.
“Shall produce gender-specific data to enable women to make informed decisions and also to better participate in governance; should capacitate the media to produce comprehensive and gender-sensitive
information,” part of the resolution states.
It added: “Should amend any law(s) that limit women’s access to information and to communicate and encourage countries that already have access to information laws to amend their laws to specifically recognize and guarantee women’s rights of access to information and to ensure that the implementation of these laws specifically give effect to women’s rights.”
Ms Coker told Politico that gender sensitive data such as one on the maternal mortality rate, sexual and reproductive rights and gender based violence, women and advocates can be in better position to change certain practices and demand for certain services that due them.
She therefore called on the government to ensure proactive disclosure of information by Ministries Department and Agencies on their websites and through regular media updates on radio and TV programs to enable women who cannot read and write access information as well.
Acting Director of Information at the Ministry of Information and Communication, Emmanuel Turay said since Sierra Leone already has the Right to Access Information Law, what they are going to do as policy makers is to engage and maybe have a review of the Rights to Access Information Act to ensure that they give special preference to women.
“We will first lobby cabinet so that there is a cabinet paper or gazette that confirms Sierra Leone has received the document and will follow it. The Civil Society Organizations have their roles and responsibilities to play and we will ensure that the Right to Access Information incorporate the women aspect so this is how we will roll it out,” he said.
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