The Paramount Chief of Bombali Sheborah Chiefdom has called on Politicians to ensure they give safe seats to potential women for November 2012 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council elections.
Chief Kassanga II made this appeal during the opening of a three day Training of trainers session on “People-Centered Security Governance in Strengthening Community Women’s Participation in SSSR Process in Sierra Leone,” in Makeni on Tuesday 21st February 2012.
Paramount Chief Bai Sheborah Kassanga II said 30% promise of government quota to women can only be achieved when politicians give safe seats to women for the elections. The Chief said politicians must ensure they give seats that are must win seats to women as a way of empowering them.
Chief Kassanga II commended the Office of National Security (ONS) for their strive in sensitizing his subjects in Bombali on security and its importance. He said the war was as a result of improper structures especially in addressing security but with the well established ONS, he said peace will stay.
“Office of National Security is one of the most organized structures that help greatly in maintaining peace in the country. It has a well formed body from office of the president way down to chiefdoms level,” he stated.
“A very vibrant Civil Society that is non partisan, rather objective in their cause can make a change in ensuring Laws on our traditions are changed especially to have women paramount chiefs in the North. Since government is committed in giving 30% to women let’s make good and effective use of it and support each other,” he ended.
Welcoming participants the Gender Desk Officer in the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA) Ibrahim Kamara said their Ministry is pleased to partner with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Centre for Security Development and Rule of Law (DCAF) who jointly funded the training.
Mr. Ibrahim Kamara said the ministry is very keen in ensuring women are integrated in the fore front of decision making. He called on participants to make effective use of the training noting that the training in diverse ways will help elevate women.
The International Organization for Migration representative Mangeh Sesay thanked MSWGCA for partnering with them especially on this training. He said the training is one of the easy and friendly ways of putting women in their correct position in the country.
Mr. Mangeh Sesay called on other partners including government to work hand in hand with women in empowering them. Mr. Sesay said the country can develop only when women are put in their right places and ended by pledging his Institutions continued support toward elevating women in the country.
Delivering her keynote address the deputy Minister MSWGCA thanked IOM and DCAF for working with her ministry in empowering women and girls. Hon. Rosaline Oya Sankoh said government has helped in elevating women in various domains.
The Honorable Minister said “No nation can prosper without the full participation of women in active positions. This is because they are the best informants and our government has put it into practice by passing into law the three gender Acts and others to add more weight to women in the country,” she boasted.
Minister Oya Sankoh pledged government’s continued support to women and children in the country and called on women to organize themselves towards showcasing potentials in their localities.
Representative of Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) Anike Doherty said their 12 years Swiss based Organization is helping government in ensuring reform in the security sector in a more accountable, transparent and professional way.
Madam Anike Doherty said their gender wing is established as a way of making sure women are given equal field of play as men. This she went on, “women have since been neglected, abandoned and yet still continue to suffer in terms of Gender Based Violence, they are not adequately involved in security committees,” she noted.
“It was against this back drop that we are working closely with the Ministry to empower women and talk with security Institutions to give more priority to women. I hope that this training will be of great importance and fruitful to all,” she concluded.
By Mohamed Kabba
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