March 17, 2021
By: Aruna Kamara (BO)
The Director of Women Against Violence and Exploitation in Society, Sierra Leone (WAVES-SL), Hannah Yambasu has told worshippers at the Flaming Bible Church, New London Bo, that women are still struggling to be empowered to realize equality in their time even though the government has made strides to address their concerns.
” We’re not celebrating Women’s Day but commemorating because we’re still struggling for a safe and enabling environment that favours our equal participation in leadership, and our freedom from SGBV ” she said.
According to the Director of WAVED-SL, there still remains a need for the elimination of all forms of violence against women as means of protection from the traditional norms that have limited their rights especially in rural settings.
She said the struggle for Gender Equity and Women’s Empowerment should not only be a concept but to be applied which explains why her organization has merged with like-minded partners and the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs to push the issue of gender parity as human rights with opportunities for national development.
Madam Yambasu, on behalf of the Women for Change, called on the Clergy to create the enabling space for women to display thier leadership skills and encouraged her women folks to take up the challenge and opportunity whenever the opportunity arises.
She noted that they have the abilities and capabilities to make a change for effective Leadership.
Speaking on the theme of the International Women’s Day(IWD)2021, The Director of Rehabilitation and Development Agency Sierra Leone (RADA/SL), Dr. Augustine G. Robinson, said this is a ripe season for women leadership. He reechoed the need for women to be empowered.
He also referenced Biblical and practical examples of women who were given leadership positions and performed tremendously noting that it is the perfect will of God for women to take leadership positions not only in church but also in every facet of the society.
Dr. Robinson told the worshippers that they should not be attached to a culture that prohibits women from aspiring for leadership and taking the front role in realizing their potentials.
Martha Feika from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs and Ann Sesay- Brima from RADA/SL were amongst the women who organized the Women’s Day Thanksgiving Service.