By Crispina Cummings
Opposition MP, Emma Kowa has called for tougher laws to address violence against women and girls "because despite all the sensitisation that has been going on women and girls are still victims of everyday violence".
She was speaking during an outreach programme by MPs in their constituencies to educate them on sexual and gender-based violence.
Kowa told a meeting attended by Paramount Chiefs, Members of Parliament from the south east of the country and different stakeholders that they should all support the awareness-raising effort on gender-base violence in their localities.
The chairperson of the Inter-Parliamentary Union said the organisation was a worldwide body supporting parliaments to enhance good governance and democracy.
She said "for the past weeks we have organised similar programmes in Makeni in which the people [there] appreciated the support of IPU in Sierra Leone".
In his contribution on the topic domestic and sexual violence, Frank Kposowa, MP, urged participants to respect the rights of women and girls. Other MPs discussed international and national legal instruments dealing with sexual violence against women.
(C) Politico 03/06/14
