President Julius Maada Bio on Tuesday 21st November 2023, officially launched the Network of Women Ministers and Parliamentarians (NeWMaP) and delivered the keynote address at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown, at which event he observed that despite the challenges in many areas, there is hope for women and girls in Sierra Leone. The event was organized by the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, with support from Campaign for Good Governance, TROCAIRE and Irish Aid.
The President articulated that women have led before and can lead again, and appealed to them to build strong alliances, observing that the event is momentous and demanding equal participation of women in governance and the decision-making process that would fast-track development.
President Bio went on to inform the audience that women account for 52% of the population, are a force to be reckoned with, and cannot be ignored. He called on them to cement individual and collective alliances, pointing out that their voices have been silenced and their contributions overlooked, underscoring that they cannot fail.
He also called on them to include other women in the police, army, judiciary and other sectors into the network, mentor girls, and be role models asserting that the best investments are in women and that Sierra Leone is making steady progress on gender empowerment through sound policies and laws, citing the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act of 2022 (GEWE) that seeks to promote gender parity, stating that women have been under-employed, suffered high rate of gender violence, early marriage, and abuse. He congratulated all female Members of Parliament and hoped the network would promote the government’s agenda for women’s empowerment.
President Bio further urged the women to reflect on gender disparity that still exists in the country, and admonished them not to use the network to empower themselves, but to inspire the next generation of women leaders and that he would support the network to change the narrative of women, concluding that the ceremony is a transformative milestone.
The First Lady, Mrs. Fatima Bio, said she is impressed and motivated that women are fighting for their rights, and urged them to design interventions based on data, build on gains already made by their predecessors, mitigate climate change and stay united.
The chairperson for the ceremony, Mrs Isatu Jabbie Kabbah, revealed that the event is to place women at the centre, asserting that the President has proven his commitment to women’s empowerment and that the event is a rebirth of the Network that had existed in the past to serve as the vehicle for mobilisation and a bridge between women, the legislature and executive, for which she commended President Bio.
The Country Director of Trocaire disclosed that the launch is a trailblazer to bring women together to amplify their voices, that the event is a groundbreaking moment, that women now account for 30% of Parliament, Cabinet and Local Councils, that women’s representation in Parliament increased from 19 to 43, with 10 women Ministers and 11 Deputy Ministers, and assured that government is committed to appointing more women into various positions in governance and the decision-making process.
She also called on the network to build strong alliances with men, support and stand by each other, as well as harness and build their potential.
The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr Isata Mahoi, commended President Bio for gracing the occasion and delivering the keynote address, assuring that women would also be grateful to the President for empowering and emancipating them, for his sustained commitment to their welfare, as well as the enactment of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act of 2022 (GEWE), and assured that women would deliver to make way for the appointment of more women leaders. She reiterated that they would not let the President down for believing in them.
Dr Mohoi also called on the network to build strong allies with men, support and stand by each other, and harness and build their potential, revealing that women’s issues have been mainstreamed into the Public Elections Act, the Customary Land Rights Act and other laws.
The representatives made similar statements of UN Women, the Ambassador of Ireland and the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Gender and Children’s Affairs.
Earlier, Mr Sahr Kendema of Campaign for Good Governance introduced the Chairperson for the event, the Presidential Adviser on Gender at State House, Mrs Isatu Jabbie Kabbah, while the vote of thanks was rendered by the President of the Sierra Leone Female Parliamentary Committee, Hon. Neneh Lebbie.
