To join the international world to celebrate the International Women’s Day on Saturday, TEDEWOSIL in collaboration with Enhancing the Interaction and Interface between Civil Society and the state to improve poor people’s lives (ENCISS) has organised women dialogue forum for women all over the country.
Speaking yesterday at the National Stadium hostel, Mrs Martha Chigozie from TEDEWOSIL said this year’s theme for Sierra Leone was shaping progress: implementing imperative Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendations on women and gender act.
She added that the International Women’s Day activities were built around this theme for advocacy and publicity relating to imperative TRC recommendations on women as well as the recently passed Gender Acts.
Mrs Chigozie also underscored some of the work ENCISS had done for the upgrading of women
In her speech, Mrs Lovetta Pratt from ENCISS said her organisation aimed to improve poor people’s lives through policy, adding that “ENCISS also aims at promoting learning information and communication on issues of particular relevant to both civil society and the state”.
She noted that though women had not achieved the 30% quota but that should not be a stumbling block to them. “We need to move forward and make our land marks”, she noted.
Mrs Jeneba Koroma from the ministry of Social Welfare and Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA) said her ministry had work assiduously to protect women and children.
She observed that if Sierra Leone should move forward, women should close the gap between their male counterparts. Earlier in her opening remarks, Mrs Marie Bob Kandeh emphasized the need for women’s education and urged women to rise up and be in a rightful position.
Mrs Edith Kpendema from Coalition of Women’s organisation emphasized on the need for parents to educate their children, especially girls.
She maintained that women formed a greater percentage of the population but they still face discrimination in their homes, offices and else where.