By: Aruna Kamara (BO)
Madam Hannah Yambasu who is a Gender Activist who doubles as Executive Director of Woman Against Violence and Exploitation in Society Sierra Leone (WAVES- SL) has expressed her utter disappointment and frustration at Members of Parliament over the non-passage of the Gender Equality and Empowerment Bill into Law.
Speaking at the Celebration of the International Youth Day held at the Child Reintegration Centre in Bo, she said that “some of us are not happy because the MPs do not want to empower the women’’.
“I am disappointed at the MPS because up till now the parliament and the government have refused to pass the Gender empowerment bill just in the name of giving us safe seat or space to the women,’’ adding that they have nailed us on the cross,’’ she stated.
Madam Yambasu noted that female youth and women form the bulk of our population and the MPs need our votes but cannot pass the bill that will give voices and space to be in Parliament.
“Are the MPs sincere about the empowerment of women in the country and and they need to know that they women have a critical role to play in the development of the country,’’ she asked.
Speaking to A-Z Newspaper, some other gender activists in Bo said that parliament needs to treat women issues serious as there need to be more women not only in parliament but in other governance positions.
They said the passage of the Gender Equality and Empowerment bill when passed into law will give the women the platform to the women to have more voice to contribute meaningfully towards the development of the country.
A Member of Parliament who spoke to A-Z Newspaper on the condition of anonymity said that Parliament makes laws that are good for the development of the country and the women should know that MPS both male and female are committed to giving voice to the women to be heard and take part in the governance of the country as the current female MPs are doing.
