POLITICS Breaking the Barriers: What are the Political Parties Offering Women Next Elections? Posted by on Apr 4, 2007, 14:06

A statement by the 50/50 group of Sierra Leone on the forthcoming Sierra Leone presidential and parliamentary election July 2007.

The 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone wishes to commend the national electoral commission and all political parties in Sierra Leone for the smooth progress made so far in the preparations for the July 2007 elections.

The 50/50 group, a non-partisan campaign for more women in politics and public life wishes to particularly commend the current government of Sierra Leone for taking note of the global trend for gender equality and recognizing the importance of women in national development.

At no time in the history of Sierra Leone have we had a woman as chief electoral commissioner, chief immigration officer and head of the independent media commission as we do now.

There are now more women parliamentarians and ministers than ever before. It is clear that this government appreciates that women are capable of holding the highest positions in the country although there is much more to be done.

The 50/50 group wishes to recall the key role played by Sierra Leone women in the democratization and peace processes that have ushered in a period of peace and democratic civilian rule.

We wish to specifically draw attention to the women’s courageous protest march on the 7th May 2000 to Foday Sankoh’s Spur Road resident that preceded and set the stage for the May 8 demonstration that eventually led to the arrest of Foday Sankoh and the removal of the RUF.

The 50/50 group wishes to draw the attention of the leaders of the political parties to their previous and current public statements inviting women to come forward and participate in our country’s political processes at all levels both as candidates and voters.

Since women form the majority of the population, and our country is a signatory to many international instrument like CEDAW, and the Africa charter of human and people’s rights that support women’s political participation, including the Sierra Leone constitution, we are calling on all political parties to keep to their promises made in February 2002 and April and May 2006 and select at least 30% of women candidates for the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Due to the successful awareness raising work of the group, we had a woman as presidential candidate and 2 women as running mates for the 2002 elections.

In the light of this, 50/50 group wishes to encourage and urge all political parties, in a bid to allow women to play their rightful places in managing the peace and democracy they helped to achieve, to not only select at least 30% of women as candidates but to also choose women as running mates for the next presidential election.

The 50/50 group appreciates the good relationship it currently enjoys with all political parties in the country and wishes to assure them of its continuing support.

The 50/50 group, having consulted widely with all women’s organization and groups, believes strongly that Sierra Leone has come of age and women and men are now ready to work side by side for the attainment of gender parity and good governance.

Liberians have made history by electing the first women president in Africa and the Gambia has a woman as vice president. It is now clear those women can lead successfully.

In Sierra Leone, in line with the 50/50 Group’s national anthem, all we want to do is to work side by side with men.

“No longer men in front and the women at the back,

but men and women working side by side

side by side

side by side”

It is clear to the 50/50 group that many respectable and capable Sierra Leonean women are ready to take up the challenge.

Long live our beautiful Sierra Leone

Long live the men of Sierra Leone

Long live the youths of Sierra Leone

Long live the beautiful and strong women of Sierra Leone.