By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
President Julius Maada Bio has recommitted his Government to fostering gender equality, and women empowerment and ensuring their active participation in shaping the future of Sierra Leone.
He made the commitment while officially launching the Network of Women Ministers and Parliamentarians in Sierra Leone (NeWMaP) on the 21st of November, 2023 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown.
The President noted that NeWMaP is an initiative that seeks to build stronger alliances among female Government-appointed Ministers and elected Parliamentarians to promote the representation of women and their full and equal participation in political and Parliamentary leadership.
During the launch, he charged the leadership and members of NeWMaP to use the platform to amplify the voices of women in decision-making processes, address gender-specific challenges, and work toward legislative reforms that promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, among other things.
He also used the occasion to restate his Government’s unflinching commitment to the advancement of gender issues across the country and also pledged his support towards the success of NeWMaP as the “Principal He-For-She Champion in the Republic.”
In her statement, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Gender and Children’s Affairs, Catherine Zainab Tarawally thanked the President for his continuing commitment to Women’s empowerment and participation. She commended the work of the Gender Committee in Parliament and the Gender Ministry for administering the support to lead women through the GEWE Bill in Parliament.
She expressed happiness to see hope in a country that she said is revamping to embrace equal participation and political representation of women in politics. She said she was pleased to see that NeWMaP is contributing to the numerous partnerships they have within the women's caucus in parliament. She urged the leadership to encourage young women without jobs and those living in rural areas that could not access the internet for better job creation.
Minister of Gender Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi pointed out that it is always good to have a male champion like President Bio whose contribution to women's empowerment in the country is enormous. She said that women in this country will always remember his contribution to the political and social empowerment of women and his sustainable contribution to supporting the Gender Bill and increasing the female representation in Parliament and Cabinet.
She recalled that in 1996, there were only 6% of women in parliament, 15% in 2002, and 14% in 2007 until 2023 when President Bio increased the number to 28%. She appealed to the President to help them succeed as a network.
First Lady, Fatima Bio stated that she kept thinking of Sierra Leone’s part in protecting women, but later realized that there is hope for women under the leadership of President Bio. She expressed joy to see women taking care of their rights, opportunities, and progress which the government has provided the opportunity for.
She called on the Government to complement the gains made by their predecessors by customizing it the way they want those gains to be. She urged NeWMaP to ensure holistic inclusivity and participation of everybody including digital and technological innovation.
“We need to be digitalized if we are to be taken seriously as women. The world is moving in that direction, “she said.
The First Lady reiterated that as Climate Change is now part of her Universal campaign, she urged everyone to adopt and include climate change mitigation in their everyday activities.
“We are witnessing rainfall in Sierra Leone in November. We all know how our children especially girls bear the bulk of this burden,” she said.
She concluded by appreciating the women who are behind the establishment of NeWMaP.
Copyright (c) 2023 Politico (22/11/23)
