By: Saidu Jalloh
In a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA) and the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), a landmark one-day consultative engagement was held for female Members of Parliament.
Taking place on November 20, 2023 at Committee Room 1, House of Parliament, the event was marked by a compelling speech from the Hon. Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, expressing gratitude to key figures such as the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament and President Julius Maada Bio for their contributions to gender equality and the significant rise in female representation in Parliament.
The Minister highlighted the strategic initiatives undertaken, including the revival of networks like NEWMAP, emphasizing their role in strengthening female leadership. The speech underscored the implementation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act 2022, urging female MPs to actively engage in direct actions and gender mainstreaming to ensure women’s issues are integrated into legislative frameworks.
The call to action extended to female MPs diligently vetting documents, demanding gender accountability, and employing a gender lens in oversight responsibilities. The Minister pledged collaboration with the Sierra Leone Female Parliamentary Caucus, outlining plans for capacity-building engagements and south-south cooperation to empower elected female leaders.
The Country Director of Trocaire, Laura Lalor, highlighted the over 30% quota of women in leadership positions and called on women to support one another.
The Irish Ambassador, Aidan Fitzpatrick, praised Ireland’s support for women’s progression in politics and commended the GEWE Act as transformative.
In launching the consultative engagement, Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Abass Bundu, expressed profound satisfaction with the impact of the initiative. Addressing the imperative to achieve full gender equality and empower women and girls, the Speaker emphasized the global challenges of gender inequality faced by women across various spheres of life. He highlighted Sierra Leone’s remarkable progress, citing legislative achievements of the 5th Parliament, including the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Act 2022 and the Public Elections Act 2022. The Speaker proudly announced Sierra Leone’s outstanding global ranking in female representation, moving from 155th to 17th in the Inter-Parliamentary Committees, showcasing a substantial leap forward in promoting gender equality.
The consultative engagement stands as a pivotal step towards fostering collaboration and empowerment among women in governance, ultimately contributing to Sierra Leone’s development.
