By:Hafsatu Z Bangura
The Women’s Forum Sierra Leone last week successfully organized an engagement with various Paramount Chiefs, Tribal Heads, Women Groups and Civil Society Organisations, wherein peace a clothe was signed as a Commitment to ensuring that the whole electioneering process remains peaceful.
Delivering her address during the engagement, the President of the Women’s Forum SL, Mrs Sally Adams, stated that the aim of the engagement was to discuss ways that they can contribute to protecting their communities and at the same time maintain a peaceful country. She noted that women are always at a disadvantage whenever a country is at war, which is why they as an organization are always advocating for women and children, and for peace to reign at all times.
She explained that Sierra Leone has been known for its safety and quietness in the world, its good education system, its friendly people, its natural landscape and peace and development.
She said SDG 16 calls for a peaceful and inclusive society based on respect for human rights, protection of the most vulnerable, the rule of law and good governance at all levels.
“Therefore, the Woman of this country are calling on all to make that peace happens. We are calling on all of you to be fair and just and must condemn acts of violence regardless of who the perpetrators are, promote peaceful messages within the communities and support initiatives that will ensure social cohesion, and promote the safety of women and children”.
She also called on stakeholders to help consolidate the peace by making individual and collective efforts as the peace of the country is in their hands.
Mrs Adams furthered that as a follow-up to the signing of the peace clothes, with support from the United Nations Development Program through the Peace Building Fund Project, Communities were engaged in post-election peace Sensitization.
She said that Congo Market, Krootown Road, Eastern Police, Lumley Market, Up Gun, Western Urban and Rural have all benefited from peace messages.
She noted that she’s very happy with the feedback from the people targeted so far and that she hopes for the better.