Women present position paper to the President of Sierra Leone

On the 29th March 2011, an official advocacy forum designed to be a continuation of celebrations marking international women’s day, was used by women of Sierra Leone to present a position paper to the president of Sierra Leone, Dr. Earnest Bai Koroma 

 In the paper, the women of Sierra Leone congratulated the President for supporting the advancement and  promotion of women’s welfare in the country especially  his determination to reduce  maternal and infant mortality rates in the country, by launching the Free Health Care policy initiative for Pregnant Women, Lactating mothers and children under five, and the launching of the National Gender Strategic Plan and Sierra Leone National Action Plan on United Nations Resolutions 1325 and 1820 on 3rd and 8th June 2010 respectively. They said this marked a turnaround in the lives of women in Sierra Leone especially when the President apologised to all women for the atrocities committed against them during the war.

The paper also highlighted critical issues and recommendations, which needs attention and ultimate implementation or approval action.

They include the following:

• Attainment of the minimum 30 percent quota at all levels.
• Discrimination against women in chieftaincy as opposed to agreements on international instruments such as CEDAW, and the AU Protocol.
• Timely disbursement of funds to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s to enhance the Ministry’s performance of its functions.

Violence against Women and girls

• High prevalence of gender- based violence, particularly sexual violence against young girls/babies with the high level of impunity displayed by the perpetrators.
• Lack of enforcement of the existing laws by the court systems, with evidence of gender insensitivity to victims which has become unbearable and unacceptable.
• Provision of the free medical examination and treatment of SGBV victims as stipulated in the Domestic Violence Act.

The Girl Child Education

The late disbursement of tuition fees and provision of learning materials and uniforms has placed considerable burden on the families which has against the spirit of the implementation of the Girl Child Education Policy.

The Women requested that the President facilitate the early review of the Chieftaincy Act 2009, to allow women’s unequivocal participation at all levels, ensure that the Justice system improves its roles and responsibilities in promoting fair and timely administration of justice for women who have suffered violence such as rapes and  the prompt approval of the Sexual Offences and Matrimonial Causes Bills which is still in the pipeline, the full implementation of the girl child policy and more support for the retention of girls and training of women in marketable vocations.

Finally the women of Sierra Leone called on the president to declare march 8 as a public holiday and to ensure that the date for the commemoration of the IWD remains unmovable.