By Sulaiman Aruna Sesay
In an open letter addressed to Professor Diane L. Rosen Field of Harvard Law School, the United Voices for Sierra Leone, that have branded themselves as collective force of concerned Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora relentlessly advocating for women’s rights and social justice in our homeland, have urgently expressed concern hearing the featuring of Mrs Fatima Maada Bio as a lecturer.
The public lecture with the theme “Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: Addressing Gender-based Violence in the African Context, featuring Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio as a guest lecturer, is considered to be a critical subject for the first lady to handle. They noted that the use of “Dr.” before Mrs Bio’s name announcement was totally misleading. The reason being is that, Mrs. Bio holds neither a medical nor doctoral degree but has merely awarded an honorary doctorate.
“Her consistent use of the “Dr.” in official capacities raises serious questions about integrity of her representation”, they said.
According to them, addressing Gender-based Violence in the African Context, the adage “charity begins at home” takes on profound significance. They added that, Mrs. Bio, the First Lady of Sierra Leone since 2018, stands on morally shaky ground to deliver a public lecture on a sensitive topic. Contrary to the principles of gender equality and women’s social justice, her record reveals a disconcerting trail of documented instances wherein she has been implicated in inciting violence and marginalizing women, particularly within the Sierra Leone People’s Party, her husband’s political party.
The United Voices for Sierra Leone very much confident that all their accusations are not mere claim, but they can go as far as to substantiate their stance with credible references accessible through their links. They reaffirmed that first-hand testimonials of Mrs Bio’s corrupt practices and marginalization of women from sources within Sierra Leone underscore a glaring contradiction between her actions and the collective aspirations for a society built upon the pillars of equality and justice for all. Could this letter seek to going after or trying to tamper the integrity of the first lady?
Despite all the claims from United Voices for Sierra Leone, the first lady has done so such for Sierra Leone that deserve spotlight. One of the most notable initiatives spearheaded by the First Lady is the “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign, which aims to raise awareness and promote action to end gender-based violence and empower girls and women in Sierra Leone. The campaign has gained significant traction, with many Sierra Leoneans joining the call to end violence against girls and women. Her work on gender-based violence, the First Lady has also been instrumental in promoting education, particularly for girls and women. She has launched the “Girl Child Education Fund” to support girls from disadvantaged backgrounds to access education. The fund provides financial support and mentorship to help girls complete their education and achieve their full potential.
It was clearly stated in the letter that, in navigating the discourse surrounding the critical issue of gender-based violence, a lecturer must embody the very values championed by advocates for women’s rights and social justice. The essence of any meaningful discussion on gender-based violence lies in the lecturer’s knowledge and her consistent demonstration of unwavering values that align with the cause. “Mrs Bio’s track record in Sierra Leone, rather than standing as a beacon of hope, raises profound questions about her genuine commitment to combating gender-based violence”, they narrated.
