By: Aruna Kamara (BO)
The Executive Director of Peoples Rights Integrity and Dignity Empowerment-Sierra Leone (PRIDE SL), Joseph Blackie has said that women have a crucial role to play towards nation building if given the space to contribute to the development of the country.
He made this statement in Bo last week during the opening ceremony of the implementation of a three month project with support from Internews, focusing on the functional adoption of the Gender Equality and Empowerment Act,2022
According to Mr Blackie, the project is being implemented by his organization which held a stakeholder’s engagement with political parties’ stakeholders, Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), Electoral Commission Sierra Leon and Civil Society representatives to ensure commitments are made prior to the 2023 general and local government elections not forgetting the scope of adopting same at all levels of governance and work.
He said that Sierra Leone is good at making laws but the implementation becomes sometimes challenging and they will monitor the full implementation of the laws in the Gender Act to make sure that they are implemented to the letter.
Mr. Blackie however thanked the government and other gender activist including civil society organizations for their advocacy role played to ensure that the Gender Empowerment Bill becomes a law, adding that “the 2023 election is coming and we want to see women in councils, Parliament and also holding trust worthy positions so that they can make meaningful contributions towards the development of the country”.
A representative of from the All Peoples Congress Party, Sallay Kargbo expressed his profound thanks and appreciation to PRIDE-SL and Internews for creating such a platform to talk on the inclusion of women in the governance of the country.
She said that Gone are the days when should be in the kitchen and that the passing the law of empowerment for women is step in the right direction and that political parties should consider the women in the 2023 elections so that they can contribute towards nation building.
Madam Kargbo said that “give us the space to deliver as we have beautiful ideas that the men do not have and what men can do the women can do it better’’.
A representative from the Sierra Leone Peoples Party, Wiston Songo lauded the step taken by PRIDE Sierra Leone and its donor to bring stakeholders together from different political parties and election management bodies to discuss about giving space to the women as enshrined in the Gender Act.
Mr. Songo said that President Bio and the first lady are committed to the empowerment of women and girls and that passing into law the gender empowerment bill is a clear testament of president Bio`s demonstration towards women’s empowerment.