By Mabinty M. Kamara
In an effort to engage women in peace-building and mediation after the June 24 multi-tier elections, Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) yesterday engaged women in the Dwazark Community.
Speaking at the engagement which brought together market women, female politicians, and other professionals in the community, Estina Taylor President of the female media group said that the engagement was to get the concerns and challenges faced by women, the role they played during the just concluded 2023 elections and how they can contribute to peace-building and national cohesion.
The theme of the event she said is "Empowering Women's Participation in Politics, Peace Building, and National Development,” which she said encapsulates the core values of the WIMSAL.
“We firmly believe that when women are actively engaged in politics, peace-building, and shaping our nation's development, the results are transformative and sustainable,” she said.
She therefore called on the stakeholders including government representatives, and community leaders, to join hands in supporting and amplifying women's voices.
“Let us work collaboratively to dismantle barriers, create an enabling environment, and foster equal opportunities for women's political participation, peace-building initiatives, and national development,” she said.
Speaking at the engagement, the community chief, Pa Alimamy Dumbuya committed to supporting women in and out of his community. However, he said women have a major role to play if their position in national development and peacebuilding were to be recognized by other members of the society. He said many a time women have refused to come forward when called upon “The women now have the ball. All we do is to support them so make yourselves relevant,” he said.
He added that women need security in order to succeed in their development drive, saying that “most women are bullied in politics because they do not have strong forces to back them up, hence, people take undue advantage of them,” he said.
In her statement, Humama Kargbo, Women’s leader in the community highlighted the challenges faced by women who opted for elective positions in the community. She stated that one of the women was physically attacked when the results are announced.
She added that they are mostly used to rally around the men or organize their political activities including campaigns. “When we contest for key positions in our parties, they don’t give it to us instead they give us organizing secretaries or deputies to make us ineffective. But they know that we have the ability and the strength to hold those positions. This must stop and we have to stand up for ourselves by first supporting each other,” she said.
Mary Bangura, a candidate for a councilor position in the just concluded elections under the United Democratic Party narrated her experience in the electoral processes, saying that lack of financial muscle and support from family and friends has held many women from realizing their potential in politics.
She also noted the role of women in peace-building and national development. She said that women are key when it comes to peacebuilding.
Other participants at the meeting highlighted ways through which barriers against women’s growth and development can be eliminated.
The women expressed hope that those who have made it to parliament and other positions of trust will ensure they serve well and promote national development so that more women can be trusted in the next elections.
The project titled Repositioning Women-Focused CSOs for sustainable peace in Sierra Leone is funded by the United Nations Development Programme.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (07/07/23)
