Action Aid-Sierra Leone in partnership with Africa Youth Coalition against Hunger (AYCAH) yesterday convened a National Conference on the proposed Gender Equality Bill for Sierra Leone. The gathering which was chaired by Yasmine Jusu-Sheriff attracted civil society organizations from all over the country.
Speaking to Awoko at the British Council Hall in Freetown, Christian Lawrence of AASL said the sensitization conference was organized to “increase the knowledge of Sierra Leoneans on the key provisions of the proposed Gender Bill, increase women’s participation in coming general elections, create a viable, cohesive forum of stakeholders engaged in gender right issues and to put strategies in place aimed at fast-tracking the proposed Bill into law before the 2012 general elections.” The Gender Equality Bill aims at addressing “gender imbalances in elective and appointive decision making positions,” it is noted.
The framers hope to achieve the core object of the proposed law through the “minimum thirty percent” representation of each gender in Parliament, Local Council, public institutions and “all” appointive positions, and to “provide” for what was simply slated as “other related matters”.
The proposed law “entails” women and men enjoy the “same” status, and must have “equal” opportunities for “realizing” their “full human rights”.
When passed into law, public employers “shall have an obligation to promote gender equality within their institutions”. Failure to comply “shall result in a penalty being imposed”.
The bill even though not specific on penalty attracted comments from institutions and individual activists engaged in the fight for gender rights in Sierra Leone.
50/50 Group “congratulated” Action Aid for convening the National conference. The Group represented by Abator Thomas however called on international organizations like UNDP, ENCISS, Action Aid engaged in, and funding gender right issues to “come together as a group”, plan together and speak with single voice.
Campaign for Good Governance described the Bill as “timely” and “absolutely necessary” to correct what its representative Monica Timbo referred to as “historical imbalances”.
Employers in both Public and Private sectors under the dictates of the proposed law should “encourage” women to apply for jobs and failure to comply attracts unspecified sanctions. The bill also makes provision for MDA’s to recruit “gender equality monitoring personnel at senior management level” to monitor the implementation of the gender act.
Cyril Juxon Smith who represented Parliament at the sensitization conference reiterated Parliament’s “commitment” to enhance women’s participation in national development.
He advised gender rights organizations present at the conference to “engage” the office of the Clerk of Parliament for a pre legislative hearing.
Reacting to the provisions of the bill, Doris Kanneh from Kenema told Awoko that she has “confidence” in the proposed law which she said “would protect the interest of women and girls”. She called on government to pass the bill into law.
Seibatu Lamina, a media practitioner from Kambia described the bill as “good” and a stepping stone which in her words “would push women forward”. She promised to continue sensitizing women on the need to develop as a people.
Rosetta Sovula from Bo plans to also sensitise women in her region on the merits of the bill. As we move closer to the 2012 general elections, she told Awoko that the bill is “timely” and in place.
By Solomon Raye Wilson
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