As part of their work for sustainable peace within the sub region and to advocate for and promote women’s empowerment, the Mano River Union Women’s Peace Network (MARWOPMENT) has presented an interim statement on the August 11 polls.
Speaking at the Sierra Leone News Agency (SLENA), Wallace Johnson Street in Freetown, Ms. Yasmin Fofanah, MARWOPMENT’s first vice president said the day marked the tenth anniversary since the finding of the first African women observer mission.
She said the team first observed the Liberian elections, adding that women had a particular view on elections and that their role was significant for sustainable peace in elections.
Ms. Fofanah maintained that they hoped their little contribution in the election observation in the sub region would have an impact on this election.
In a statement read by the leader of the MARWOPMENT Election
Mission, Ms Amelia Ward revealed that the network was established in May 2000 with the aim of highlighting the sub-regional approach to peace making.
She disclosed that, “MARWOPMENT has participated in several elections observation missions within and outside the sub region and this included the elections in Liberia”.
Ms Ward maintained that they were of the opinion that the peaceful elections in Sierra Leone would have a positive impact on the forthcoming elections in Guinea, as they would further strengthen the fragile peace in the sub region.
“The objective of all women election observer mission is to provide an impartial account of the election process looking through women’s eyes from women’s perspective,” she noted.
Talking about the polling centres visited during the course of their observation, it was disclosed that a total of 96 polling centres were observed and monitored.
The team, which comprised 22 observers, followed the opening of voting and counting process at specific polling stations.
It was discovered by the team that the elections were conducted in a peaceful atmosphere free from violence, and that there was a high turn out of enthusiastic voters.