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Sierra Leone: Salone Women Hold Transformation Vigil

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Tue, 2012-01-31 13:51

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The steering committee of the Sierra Leone Conference on Development and Transformation Sunday January 29 held a vigil at the Youyi Building gardens. The vigil which climaxed the lightning of the development and transformation candle was witnessed by women from various women organizations, councilors and other women groups across the country.

In a declaration statement, the women said that after careful reflection and debate on the thematic areas and other pertinent issues relating to the interest and the future advancement of women and girls in Sierra Leone, they propose that this women's declaration be integrated into the conference proceedings and adopted as part of the actionable outcome for the next 25 to 50 years.

The declaration further stated that for the past 50 years, women who formed 52% of the population were marginalized and discriminated against in politics and decision-making, when they should have been on board at every stage of the developmental and transformation process of the nation.

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Read more in All Africa, posted 31 January


Sierra Leone: opposition chooses female candidate

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Fri, 2011-11-11 12:20

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Sierra Leone's top opposition candidate for this year's presidential election has chosen a female running mate.

Kadie Sesay, a university lecturer, will join the ticket led by retired Brig. Gen. Julius Maada Bio.

She is the first woman to be on the presidential ticket of either of the two main political parties in Sierra Leone.

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Read more in Associated Press, published 11 November


Sierra Leone Query: Experiences with Sequencing PAR Reforms and Electoral Cycles

This report aims to assist UNDP/Sierra Leone in formulating strategies to reform different aspects of civil service, as it heads into upcoming elections. It begins with a discussion of the types of civil service reforms that may be useful, and methods of implementation. It was difficult to find examples of experiences correlating PAR reforms and electoral cycles.  However, we did find examples of reform programmes from a number of countries.  These programmes tend to be implemented over a minimum of four (4) years; at which time the country has often undergone some type of major election.  

The overwhelming trend across the international reports found seems to point towards avoiding election times when it comes to civil service reforms. Reforms in other countries have begun either before or after elections, but do not tend to be heavily implemented during election time frames. Although civil service reform is the main topic of the report, it would be difficult to have meaningful reforms without legitimate leadership, chosen through democratic elections. Because of the difficulty in maintaining fair elections in the past, it seems that electoral reform is a necessary precursor to civil service reform, especially given the temporal proximity of the next elections.

The report concludes with observations and questions for further study, which may aid UNDP/Sierra Leone as it attempts to reform civil service and public sector laws, while anticipating upcoming elections.

Sierra Leone: The next president?

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Tue, 2011-08-02 06:33

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Last week, Sierra Leone’s biggest opposition party, the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), breathed a sigh of relief after the Supreme Court threw out a protracted case brought against it by one of its own members.

That ruling paved the way for the party’s much anticipated convention, this week end, when it is expected to elect its flag bearer, who will face off President Ernest Bai Koroma in next year’s election.

The inclusion of names of three women on the ballot for flag bearer adds impetus to this. Tribalism, which here takes regional dimension, exists at the heart of all level of politics. Delegates will most certainly have that at the back of their minds as they cast their votes on July 31. But perhaps of utmost interest is that out of 19 aspirants vying for the chance to face off with President Koroma only three are female.

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Read the whole article at Daily Monitor, published 31. July


NDI: Côte d’Ivoire's Youth Leaders Come Together for Peace and Reconciliation

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Tue, 2011-07-05 09:08

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Last year’s presidential elections in Côte d’Ivoire ended in a violent standoff between the incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, and the internationally recognized winner of the vote, Alassane Ouattara. During the five-month crisis, which ended with Gbagbo’s arrest and Ouattara’s inauguration, more than 3,000 Ivorians died. We spoke with Charles Djrekpo, NDI resident director, about NDI efforts to help the reconciliation process, and how women and youth leaders are the key to a more a peaceful future for Côte d’Ivoire.

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For more information, visit NDI


Sierra Leone: The thing about 30% quota for women

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Tue, 2011-07-05 08:55

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Last year I went to an International Women's Day Celebration at an Irish diplomat’s house on invitation from a member of the Mano River Women's Peace Network
(MARWOPNET). There were many middle class educated Sierra Leonean women present. The host introduced us to Elizabeth Simbiwa Sogbo-Tortu who was barred from
contesting for the chieftaincy in Kono because she was a woman, although traditional law in the Southern region permits female chiefs. The case was then being pursued at the Supreme Court. We ate, drank, and at the end of it all, we bought Tee Shirts with the phrase: De Absolute Minimum 30% quota representation for women in politics. I didn't think much of the tee shirt then nor of its message, for as a middle class educated Sierra Leonean woman, I didn't see how that issue related to me.

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For the whole comment, go to Cocoriko


Sierra Leone: President Launches Women’s Coalition

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Tue, 2011-06-21 06:58

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The All Political Parties Women’s Association (APPWA), established with the active cooperation of the local United Nations Coordinating Agency, UNIPSIL, aims at increasing the participation of women in Sierra Leone politics, particularly to attaining the 30% quota by all political parties.

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For the whole article, visit Awareness Times


Sierra Leone: Promise of More Space for Women in Decision-making

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Sun, 2011-05-15 19:29

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In Sierra Leone’s highly patriarchal society, where institutionalised gender inequalities are exacerbated by discriminatory customs, one group is singing its way towards changing this.
The Grassroots Empowerment for Self Reliance (GEMS), supported by the Governance and Transparency Fund of the UK Department for International Development, is working to change the status quo and raise awareness around the proposed legislation to have 30 percent female representation in all levels of government, using radio jingles.

 

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For more information, please visit: IPS


Sierra Leone: Women Play a Significant Role in the Political, Economic and Social Life

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Tue, 2010-02-23 06:13

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President Ernest Bai Koroma has made it his government’s priority to empower women in the political, economic and social driven agenda of Sierra Leone. He has entrusted women with important responsibilities to drive through his agenda for change and to use their maternal instincts to help bring in social cohesion. He has appointed women to leadership positions that will enable them to participate fully in the development process of a country that has time and again denied them of their rightful place in society.

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To read the complete story please visit News Time Africa.

Sierra Leone: Woman Breaking Traditional Walls in Chieftaincy Elections

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Mon, 2009-12-14 23:00

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The decision of whether women can stand for a chieftaincy election in Sierra Leone is being challenged here in Kono, the eastern part of Sierra Leone.But now Kono is seeing another revolution. Elizabeth Kumba Simbiwa Sorgboh Torto has declared herself available for the position of paramount chief in the Nimiyama chiefdom.

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For more informations, please visit all Africa