The theme of the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union summit held in Kigali, Rwanda, “African Year of Human Rights with a particular focus on Women Rights” is a timely focus on the rights of African women. It provides an opportunity to African countries to take stock of the gains made over the years and try to take corrective measures in addressing this all important issue of women’s rights.
There is no gainsaying that the actualization of Africa’s development and prosperity depends largely on the protection and promotion of human rights, especially the rights of women. This was the raison d’etre behind this year’s theme – The Year of Women’s Rights. A number of African countries have taken this very seriously with Rwanda leading the way. Statistics have shown that Rwanda is the first and only country globally where over 60% of its members of parliament are women (Anver Versi, New African, July 2016, pg29).
According to Dr Aisha Abdullahi, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, of the 37 countries in the world that have at least 30% of women Members of Parliament, 16 are in Africa. “Rwanda is currently the leading country with the highest number of women in parliament worldwide,” says Dr Abdullahi.
Being mindful of some of these developments across the continent, the Sierra Leone government has over the years introduced deliberate policies that meet the highest international standards on Human Rights and commitment to Women’s Rights.
In adherence to global and regional commitments, the government has signed and ratified a number of international conventions and protocols relative to upholding human rights and the rights of women including: (a) the International Bill of Rights on Women (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women), signed and ratified on 21stSeptember and 11th November, 1988 respectively; (b) the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1985; (c) the African Union Heads of State Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality adopted in 2005; (d) the African Union Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa adopted in Maputo in 2003 and Ratified by Sierra Leone in 2015.
At the national level, it is clear from the testimonies of many women’s rights activists that Sierra Leone has embarked on creating a conducive policy environment for the promotion of Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment. Legislative reforms and policies enacted to promote Gender equality and Women’s Empowerment include: (a) Domestic Violence Act 2007; (b) Devolution of Estate Acts 2007; (c) Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act 2009; (d) Child Rights Act 2007; (e) Chieftaincy Act 2009; and Sexual Offences Act 2012.
Sierra Leone’s twin policies of Gender Mainstreaming and the Advancement of Women adopted in 2000, and the National Gender Strategic Plan of 2010 – 2013, as well as the National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820, established the framework for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment further underscores the commitment of the Government led by President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma to upholding women’s rights.
Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment is also well articulated in Sierra Leone’s development framework, the Agenda for Prosperity (2013 – 2018) as a standalone pillar and mainstreamed in all the other pillars.
In furtherance of this commitment, government has developed initiatives to foster Gender Equality and Empowerment including: (a) An education Act passed in 2004 under the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). The Act provides for compulsory basic education and stipulates punitive measures for deterrents and reaffirms the specific concerns of the Education for All goals 4 and 5 on increasing enrolment and eliminating gender disparity in education for girls and Women; (b) The code of Education on Teachers and other Education Personnel was also developed in 2009; (c) Equitable proportion of Female teachers in primary; (d) Gender -sensitive curriculum; (e) Girl Child Education Support which covers free tuition for girls through Junior Secondary Schools in the North and Eastern Regions; (f) Universal Access to Reproductive Health; (g) Reduction in Teenage Pregnancy; (h) Strengthen Preventive Programmes that promotes Women’s Health; (i) Promoting Access to Finance for Women by providing credit and Financial Services to Female Entrepreneurs; (j) Strengthen prevention and response mechanism to gender based violence against women/Children (SGBV); (k) Protection, Empowerment of victims/vulnerable persons especially women and girls; (l) Strengthening capacities for women’s representation and participation in governance at all levels, security and private sector; (m) Establishment of National Women’s Commission as part of strengthening the national gender machinery.
From the foregoing, it’s unmistakably clear that Sierra Leone continues to demonstrate political commitment at the highest level to the promotion of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment with a view to building a strong and resilient country. It’s in recognition of these strides that the AU awarded Sierra Leone twice in a row, the African Gender Score Card (A Monitoring and Accountability Tool) – Political and Civil Rights for 2015 and 2016 respectively.
“Our initiatives have had substantive impact on gender mainstreaming while according gender and women’s issues the political clout it deserves,” President Koroma said during the margins of the AU Summit in Kigali.
Although challenges still persist, the president as champion of He-for-She initiative has reaffirmed his commitment to deepen and enhance the space for Women’s participation in all spheres of society and governance. His appointment of over 14 women to serve in various capacities including cabinet reinforces that commitment. President Koroma is the first leader of Sierra Leone to appoint a female Director-General of the Foreign Ministry. He also appointed the first female State Chief of Protocol. In the judiciary, he appointed the first female Chief Justice.
If we decide to itemize all the achievements of this result-oriented and charismatic leadership of President Koroma in promoting and protecting women’s rights and empowerment, there won’t be enough space. But as the theme of this year’s AU Summit suggests, Africa’s women deserve more.
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