BY Alusine Fullah
“WITHOUT THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN AND INCORPORATION OF WOMEN’S PERSPECTIVE AT ALL LEVELS OF DECISION MAKING, THE GOALS OF EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE CANNOT BE ACHIEVED,” -TUNDE TITILAYO.
Of all their power, dutifulness, strength and gregariousness why we are still continue to discriminate, deprive, belittle and ostracize them? Are they not supposed to have dignity, love, power and total right of wellbeing? We call them mothers, but at the same time we sexually abusive them! We call them wives, but at the same time we sexually abusive and install beating in their lives! We call them sisters and daughters, but at the same time we treat them negatively. Why?! NO! I normally feel pity and to some extent set tears when I see my fellow men treat women as slaves/ reduce them to mere chicken tools. If we the men don’t help them, who will? Could you imagine a fifty year old man raped a three month baby! What!!! Who could believe this, in 2020 over 3000 reported cases of rape and sexual assaults against women, girls and babies, according to Rainbow. Very disgusting!!! Who are the perpetrators? Men! For religious leaders, is there any holy book that permits men to rape women/ girls? Why are we treating them as a means to an end instead of a means to themselves? It is only a heartless man can rape a ten year/ or three month old baby. One of the victims had to say this to me in confidentiality: “He tied my hands and feet with a rope and removed my pants-he inserted his penis into my private part and blood started oozing out of it.” What a disgusting moment for her.
Of all the sexual offences acts (both national and international), men still continue to use women as sexual prey. No! I think we need to put a stop to it. Meanwhile, section 19 of the sexual offences act stated that any person who sexually penetrated a girl below the age of consent (18years) commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding fifteen years.
Furthermore, it also sadden my heart when some landlords still discriminate and refuse to rent to women, women serving as sureties are being treated differently in the justice system. In terms of educational institutions, stereotyping roles for boys and girls and teaching methods must be eschewed in all circumstances. Many women in Sierra Leone are at risk for sexual and gender-based violence, sexual assault of adults and minors, marital rape, school related sexual abuse, and harmful traditional practices like female genital mutilation.
Believe it or not, women in Sierra Leone have contributed immensely in all works of life. Indeed, of all the hurdles and social ostracism they have faced yet they still continue to make huge mark on the lives’ of men and society at large. I want to heartily duff my hat to the many, many other dutiful and stoic women including those who are suffering in reticence across all regions in Sierra Leone. I want to duff my hat to the First Lady, Madam Fatima Bio for her massive contributions in promoting girls and women’s rights in Sierra Leone. In an exclusive interview with SIERRAEYE, Madam Fatima Bio said: “All I want for this country is a change for women. Where a woman would be safe, free, be educated and empowered. And, above all, they are included in every decision-making process. My most significant achievement would be equality.” What an immaculate heart for her compatriots (women/ girls)! The Hands off our Girls has been a heaven for girls in Sierra Leone. Blessings to Madam First Lady!
This piece will not end, if I don’t duff my hat to Dr. Nana Claris Efua Prat. Dr. Pratt has added her voice in every, and I underline every, discourse that involves women and girls across the country, the brain for plethora of projects and fantastic polices that today contribute to making Sierra Leone a safer place for girls and women. Yes, she contributed to the development of Sierra Leone’s Twin polices on the advancement of women and gender mainstreaming in 2000 and spearheaded as a consultant, the crafting of the Sierra Leone Women’s Manifesto, first developed in 2002. Kudos to her! It was she who heartily said: “I will never stop defending women’s rights to participate in every field of endeavour, women, girls, men and boys should be equally benefit from the national development pie.”
In addition, permit me also to give my warm salute to Brigadier Kestoria Kabia, a woman who has risen from all ranks and files in the military. She contributed immensely in inspiring women in the military. Indeed, in 2015, Madam Kabia is a woman in military boots, the only female Brigadier in all of west Africa and the assistant Chief of Defence Staff, Gender and Equal Opportunities. I will also not forget the massive contributions made by Marie Bob Kandeh in terms of promoting gender equality. She was the secretary General of the Sierra Leone Market Women’s Association and is well known among the rural and community women, and respected by her peers nationwide for her genuine efforts in seeking and promoting their interest, settling disputes between marriage couples. It was she who said: “I did not know what I was doing gender activism or…until I started receiving calls from both local and international development partners…that is how my gender activism became official.” Let us now turn the baton to Madam Isha Johansen, the lady who has shaken her hands with heaven in term of sports both nationally and internationally. Yes, the first female president of Sierra Leone’s Football and currently, only female Football Association President in the world, also she is currently the only woman to own a national football club: FC Johansen. FC Johansen was born at the end of the country’s decade long civil war in 2002. This club aims to keep young boys in school through instilling in them a passion for football and patriotism. Wow! Have you seen how influential women are? Permit also to duff my hat to Professor Memunattu Pratt. She is indeed the brain behind the peace and conflict Studies Department at the Fourah Bay College. With an exclusive interview with WINDOW Magazine Professor Pratt said: “Today the knowledge that I have acquired is power and it safety supports the creation of the right environment for good governance, gender equality, peace and human rights…” Dr. Christian Thorpe is also one of the many women who have broken the glass ceiling in terms of gender equality. She is the first Chief female Chief Electoral Commissioner and chairperson for NEC during 2012 general elections. For effective women empowerment and gender equality, Dr. Thorpe formed the Forum for Africa Women Education (FAWE). “There is hope for women in Sierra Leone, it is time we rise up to our dignity as women and participate in the mantle of leadership for our country in whatever area we find ourselves…” kudos to her for her strive towards women and girls’ empowerment. Yes, off all the above names mentioned, I can now beat my chest that women are the engine for Sierra Leone’s development.
The journey has been long and the road is quite rugged. Yes, even though as a country we are not yet there fully, but we are getting there gradually. Across Sierra Leone, the spins-offs/ steps have been enormous creating the conducive atmosphere for the realization of women’s rights accompanied with a quest, by the women themselves, for gender equality and women empowerment. His Excellency the president of Republic of Sierra Leone, Maada Bio signed into law the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment ACT on the 19th January, 2023. President Bio tweeted: “A giant leap for Sierra Leone in the Right Direction. The bill will also revolutionize our government’s engagement with WOMEN- making them equal partners in our task to build a strong and vibrant country. Thank you to all stakeholders for the actualization of this landmark ACT. Women’s rights are Human rights. ” The overall objective of this bill is to empower women and speak gender equality. Going back to the Goal 5 of the sustainable development goal which talks about gender equality and empower all women and girls, the foregoing bill is absolutely in line with that. This bill is consistent with the purpose of addressing gender imbalances in accessing decision-making positions by providing for a minimum representation of each gender and to provide for each related matters. Moreover, under the new GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT ACT (GEWE) 30% of government and private sector jobs in the country are reserved for women. The Minister of Gender, Madam Manty Tarawalli said: “Today is an historic day when Sierra Leone can rightly say it has legislation carefully designed to do away with gender inequality.” She went further by stating that the new law will break the economic and political exclusion shackles for urban and rural women across the country. Yes, with the above act, there is bright light in the tunnel for women in Sierra Leone.
To sum it up, let us give them their full human rights. They are our mothers, sisters, daughters, cousins, friends and neighbours. Please let us respect them. Don’t be aggressive /ash with them.
I DUF MY HAT TO ALL THE WOMEN IN SIERRA LEONE!!!
