By Nasratu Kargbo
The Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations (UN) have designed an accountability framework which is said to be a gender scorecard, according to Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs Dr. Isata Mahoi.
Whilst speaking at the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) summit in Freetown on the 9th February 2024 on the Theme “Integrating Young Voices in Governance to Boost Intergenerational Justice in Decision-Making”, the Minister explained that they have designed a gender scorecard in a bid to monitor ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) on whether or not they are implementing the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act (GEWE).
She said “It is not about getting the Act and archiving it on the shelves, it is about how committed each ministry is in fighting gender discrimination and promoting gender equality and empowerment”, the Minister stressed that they want to ensure that the GEWE Act is not just enacted, but also being implemented, to achieve the desired aim.
The Minister assured members of ECOFEPA that her office is ready to dialogue and provide technical support to move the gender agenda across the region. “Governance without women is paralyzed governance,” she said. Mahoi said women make up for majority of the population in all ECOWAS member states.
Speaking on strides they’ve made as a ministry, Mahoi explained that the government under her ministry has established three structures such as the association of female ministers and deputy ministers, the network of female ministers and parliamentarians, and the association of female councilors.
She also spoke about the increase in the numbers of women in parliament, cabinet, and deputy ministers, stating that it is the first time the country has recorded such numbers.
The Minister explained that Sierra Leone participated in the validation and consultations in the ECOWAS supplementary Act on equal rights between women and men in ECOWAS which according to the Minister was enacted in 2015, she asked that they ensure the law is been fully implemented in member states. She said her Ministry is ready to work with the association, ECOWAS Commission and ECOWAS Parliament.
The ECOFEPA summit ended on the 10th of this month.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (14/02/24)
