By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The Political Party Registration Commission (PPRC) in collaboration with the National Democratic Institute has held a dialogue forum with political Parties in the eastern region to deliberate on emerging issues of national interests such as the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Bill at the Peace Garden Reservation area in Kenema.
Addressing political parties, the Chairman Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) Abdulai Masiyambay Bangura Esq. said, the engagement was a result of the concerns raised by political parties based on the multi-Parties forum set up by political parties for their participation in national issues. He said the engagement is also to allow political parties to come up with emerging issues towards the national development and to permit the parties to come out with their positions toward those issues.
He said the commission is following up on the issues raised from their previous engagements with political parties, adding that, the engagement will look at the gender bill which is now in parliament to be enacted into law, the preparedness of the national electoral commission in the conduct of free, fair, transparent and acceptable elections.
Bangura said that, the forum will look at the roles of political parties in averting conflict in the society during and after electioneering processes and that the relevant institutions will do presentations on those key areas highlighted and each political party will be expected to state their party positions on those topics.
He said, they are looking up to political parties for their participation towards supporting the gender bill tabled in the house of parliament by lobbying with their parliamentarians to enact the bill, as the bill is meant to address the problems faced by the women in their parties.
The PPRC chairman urged political party members to have one cohesive focus for national development rather than being more loyal to individual political parties.
The Minister of Gender and Children Affairs Manty Tarawallie said, as a ministry of gender and children affairs, their role is to look at issues of quality representation of women.
She said the ministry has tabled a bill for gender equity. The enactment of the gender bill she said will enable women in terms of financial empowerments and build the capacity of women in vying for positions in their various political parties such as members of parliament, councilors, and other appointed positions, adding that, the bill states that 30% of elected and appointed positions should be given to women regardless of the political parties they belong.
“As women of this nation, we can only help to push the issues of women forward when we are together in parliament to advocate for our colleagues,’’ she said.
Minister Tarawallie emphasized that women in the political parties and other women advocacy groups should support the gender ministry for the gender bill to be enacted into law as it creates an opportunity for women to get thirty percent of employment in all the ministries departments and agencies in terms of project implementation.
Copyright © 2022 Politico 07/02/22
