By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown – On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, the Parliament of Sierra Leone, with support from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), held a one-day consultative meeting at the Foreign Affairs Academy, Tower Hill, Freetown. The event brought together female Members of Parliament (MPs) and key stakeholders to discuss the impact and challenges of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act of 2022.
Facilitators highlighted the objectives of the consultative meeting, which include assessing the impact of the GEWE Act, evaluating the effectiveness of the Parliamentary Female Caucus in advancing women’s political participation, identifying gaps and challenges in implementing the 30% representation quota for women, and engaging women leaders, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the media in developing strategies to sustain and enhance the Act’s provisions. Developing position papers for potential amendments to strengthen the legislation was also emphasized as a crucial objective.
In her statement, the Director General of Parliament, Mrs. Finda Frazer, underscored the significance of the meeting in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. She commended the Sierra Leone Parliament for enacting the GEWE Act and stressed the need for a collaborative approach to ensure its fullest implementation.
Mrs. Isatu Jabbie Kabba, Gender Adviser to the President, described the GEWE Act as a landmark achievement under President Bio’s leadership. She provided statistical insights into women’s participation in politics and other sectors, highlighting progress made since the Act became law.
Ms. Bendu Massaquio, a representative of UN Women, emphasized the critical role of women in decision-making and provided global statistics on female political participation. She reiterated UN Women’s commitment to supporting women’s empowerment initiatives across the country.
Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, speaking on behalf of the Leader of Government Business, expressed gratitude to the President for his commitment to women’s empowerment. She recounted the legislative process that led to the passage of the GEWE Act and urged political parties to support its implementation.
Representing the Opposition Leader in Parliament, Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma reaffirmed their support for gender act.
The event was moderated by Mr. Sheku Lamin Turay, Director of Parliamentary and Public Relations, who highlighted the socio-economic benefits of the GEWE Act.
The consultative meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to sustain and strengthen implementation of the Act, ensuring that women’s empowerment remains a national priority.