On March 6, 2025, Hon. Bernadette Wuyata Songa, the President of the Parliamentary Female Caucus in Sierra Leone, delivered a powerful message urging women across the nation to actively engage in capacity building to enhance their representation in positions of trust. Her remarks came during a two-day High-Level Policy Dialogue Forum held at the Miatta Conference Center in Freetown, coinciding with the celebration of International Women’s Day.
The forum was centred around the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment.” In her address, Hon. Wuyata Songa acknowledged the relentless struggles that women face but emphasized their resilience in overcoming these challenges. She reflected on the arduous journey women undertook during the transition from the Fifth Parliament to the Sixth Parliament, highlighting the pivotal role of the recently passed Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Bill. This legislation has significantly improved the representation of women in governance, allowing them to better serve their communities.
The Parliamentary Female Caucus President underscored the importance of capacity building as a critical measure for enhancing women’s representation in all areas of governance. She passionately advocated for quality education for women, asserting that it is essential for empowering them to take on leadership roles. Hon. Wuyata Songa also addressed the necessity of budgetary allocations for gender empowerment across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), stressing that adequate funding is crucial to ensure women receive the support they need to thrive.
Drawing from her personal experiences in the Fifth Parliament, she recounted instances of intimidation from male colleagues during debates. However, she emphasized that such challenges can be overcome through resilience and capacity building. “How do we sustain the gains made in women’s representation in governance?” she posed, urging her audience to consider this vital question. In conclusion, Hon. Wuyata Songa called on fellow citizens and donor partners to identify and address the existing gaps in women’s representation, advocating for solutions that would enable more women to ascend to positions of influence. She assured attendees of Parliament’s commitment to fostering women’s capacities, urging everyone to work collectively to sustain and enhance the progress made in women’s governance.
