By Mabinty M. Kamara
Honorable Veronica Kadie Sesay, President of the Female parliamentary caucus, on Tuesday August 6 presented a report of a fact finding research on women’s space and participation in governance to President Julius Maada Bio.
The report, according to her, push for the amendment of Section 74 of Act No.6 of the 1991 Constitution to include a new sub-section that would provide for two women Members of Parliament for each district who, subject to the Provisions of the Constitution, shall be elected in such manner as may be prescribed by or under any law.
Presenting the report of their benchmarking exercise at State House, Hon. Sesay said the recommendations were the products of their visit to East African countries of Kenya and Rwanda, which is in line with President Bio’s 2018 Elections Manifesto to the women of Sierra Leone.
The Member of Parliament representing Constituency 094 in the Moyamba District said Government should develop programs to ensure that political, economic and socio-cultural factors that impede women’s participation in public life were addressed. She went on to say that they had also recommended for the amendment of the section of the Constitution dealing with resignation from public office from twelve to six months for women aspirants before elections, including other sections or provisions that limit women’s equal representation and effective participation at levels of public decision making.
“Government should review the country’s laws and policies to make room for corrective action with land reforms, vis-a-vis women’s equal right to land ownership, retention and distribution. It should establish a campaign fund for women in politics, make resources available to women and girls to enhance their skills and prepare them for service and establish a National Women’s Council,” she statd.
President Bio said he was pleased to see women taking the bold step in championing issues relating to their welfare. He said he was particularly concerned with women’s issues because women play important role in nation-building, adding that it would be a lip service to talk about development without including women, considering the fact that they constitute the majority of the country’s population.
President Bio disclosed that he had worked on a few of the submissions in terms of gender-based violence, especially as it related to rape. He noted that the declaration of a State of Emergency on rape was a way of protecting innocent girls that were being violated. He said he would look into the recommendations and discuss them within the framework of governance and assured of his continued support to women’s issues.
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