Women On The Road To 2018 Elections
Sierra Leoneans are expected to be going to the polls in March 2018. This move presents an opportunity for increased women’s participation in elections. Women account for more than 51 percent of the country’s total population but they are still struggling to have substantial representation in governance.
A 1995 report issued by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) concluded that 30 percent would be the minimum representation required for women as a group to exert a meaningful influence in legislative assemblies. Only 15 of the countries included in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) survey have achieved this level excluding Sierra Leone.
Currently, there are six deputy ministers who are women, and only four full ministers in a cabinet of 25 members that include the President and Vice President. There were only 15 women in the last parliament of 124 members. Women constitute 51 percent of the population and these numbers do not fully represent them.
During the last general elections, National Electoral Commission (NEC) nomination statistics show that 417 (18.5%) women and 1837 (81.5%) men were nominated for various elective positions in the country.
According to the gender statistics of the 2012 elections, elected ordinary members of Parliament were 96 males to 16 females, elected Chairpersons 12 males to one female, elected Mayors five males to one female and councilors 369 males to 87 females.
As political campaigns continue to be competitive, female candidates face a range of issues from financial constraints to political violence, a lack of political mentoring and other immaterial barriers set up to deter women.
So far, among all the political parties that have completed their conventions and selected/elected their presidential candidates none of them have selected a woman to lead their parties. Even in the two major political parties, not even a running mate position has been given to a woman, except the only political party headed by FEmin Claudius –Cole.
This same optimism has been expressed by a lot of other individuals and organizations at many quarters, but the actual situation that obtains leaves more to be desired. For Dr. Fatu Taqi, President for 50/50 Group in Sierra Leone, women’s participation in election has decreased in Sierra Leone because the country is purely a male dominated society. Lesser chances she said are given to women despite the fact that women are in the majority. She attributed that to the negative aspects of culture which serve as a deterrent to women’s progress.
Dr. Taqui said that there is widespread stereotype that women cannot do anything other than housework, adding that the factors that are stopping women not to take active part in elections are time constraint, family constraint, which involves looking after their family. She noted that there is also the fear that their partners won’t support them, “that is why they will stay back and support the men.”
According to Dr Taqui, Literacy level is also another factor hindering women’s participation in politics, but as a group, sge said the 50/50 has been going to different places across the country encouraging women to step forward and take part in the forthcoming elections. “We’ve been giving women the capacity building that is desperately needed for them to take up leadership in their communities and the nation as a whole,” she said. She added that their plan as an organization is to have many women go out and vote and also ensure that women are voted for in the coming elections.
The 50/50 has almost championed all issues regarding women’s rights in Sierra Leone and they are making inroads into getting a section of the women to fully participate and run with the vision of equality. However the question as to how much they have succeeded in getting the women to develop interest in politics is another issue on its own. This reporter interviewed some women in their various capacities and their various responses give a clear indication of how far women in Sierra Leone may go to making inroads into political governance.
Mrs. Fatmata Sesay a house wife told this reporter that she belonged to a political party and she has been taking part in the activities of the party through voting and attending political rallies, noting that she cannot take much active part in politics because of her responsibility as a house wife. She added that her husband is hostile regarding her participation in politics especially vying for elective positions.
Cecilia Williams who is a market woman said that she is a member of political party but she is unable to aspire for elective positions because of her level of education. She said she has been encouraging women to support their fellow women and for them to take part in the coming elections, adding that women can be very good leaders if elected into public offices.
Madam Hawanatu Bangura a civil servant told said that she can only take part in elections by voting but cannot go further even though she is educated, noting that she doesn’t have the required finances to go into politics and she is also afraid of the violence that is most times associated with politics in Sierra Leone.
Sunkarie Kamara, the Mayor of Makeni who is the only elected female Mayor in Sierra Leone said in her council they have achieved exemplary gender balance of almost 50% men and 50% women. “I would advise women here to take full advantage of their capacities. From my experience, persistence and being adamant is key. I was intimidated and silenced but I remained steadfast. Only then they realised that I was being serious, she said.”
The Public Relation Officer of the All Political Parties Women Association (APPWA) Madam Husainatu Jalloh-Randull said that many women have been coming out to participate in election, noting that as an organization, they have been capacitating women to take active part in elections.
She said funding their project has been challenging as donor funds are not forthcoming and it has been very difficult for them to sensitize women on election nationwide. She called on women to support their fellow women in elections as it will help them to achieve the required objective, noting that they will continue to engage the relevant stakeholders in ensuring that women take active part in these coming elections.
A 1995 report issued by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) concluded that 30 percent would be the minimum representation required for women as a group to exert a meaningful influence in legislative assemblies. Only 15 of the countries included in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) survey have achieved this level excluding Sierra Leone.
Currently, there are six deputy ministers who are women, and only four full ministers in a cabinet of 25 members that include the President and Vice President. There were only 15 women in the last parliament of 124 members. Women constitute 51 percent of the population and these numbers do not fully represent them.
During the last general elections, National Electoral Commission (NEC) nomination statistics show that 417 (18.5%) women and 1837 (81.5%) men were nominated for various elective positions in the country.
According to the gender statistics of the 2012 elections, elected ordinary members of Parliament were 96 males to 16 females, elected Chairpersons 12 males to one female, elected Mayors five males to one female and councilors 369 males to 87 females.
As political campaigns continue to be competitive, female candidates face a range of issues from financial constraints to political violence, a lack of political mentoring and other immaterial barriers set up to deter women.
So far, among all the political parties that have completed their conventions and selected/elected their presidential candidates none of them have selected a woman to lead their parties. Even in the two major political parties, not even a running mate position has been given to a woman, except the only political party headed by FEmin Claudius –Cole.
The Head of Communication and Outreach of the NEC, Mr. Albert Massaquoi said NEC has been promoting women’s participation in elections through the Gender and Disability Department that was established by the institution. He was optimistic that women’s participation in the froth coming elections will increase because the nomination fees which used to impede women’s chances has been reduced drastically.
This same optimism has been expressed by a lot of other individuals and organizations at many quarters, but the actual situation that obtains leaves more to be desired. For Dr. Fatu Taqi, President for 50/50 Group in Sierra Leone, women’s participation in election has decreased in Sierra Leone because the country is purely a male dominated society. Lesser chances she said are given to women despite the fact that women are in the majority. She attributed that to the negative aspects of culture which serve as a deterrent to women’s progress.
Dr. Taqui said that there is widespread stereotype that women cannot do anything other than housework, adding that the factors that are stopping women not to take active part in elections are time constraint, family constraint, which involves looking after their family. She noted that there is also the fear that their partners won’t support them, “that is why they will stay back and support the men.”
According to Dr Taqui, Literacy level is also another factor hindering women’s participation in politics, but as a group, sge said the 50/50 has been going to different places across the country encouraging women to step forward and take part in the forthcoming elections. “We’ve been giving women the capacity building that is desperately needed for them to take up leadership in their communities and the nation as a whole,” she said. She added that their plan as an organization is to have many women go out and vote and also ensure that women are voted for in the coming elections.
The 50/50 has almost championed all issues regarding women’s rights in Sierra Leone and they are making inroads into getting a section of the women to fully participate and run with the vision of equality. However the question as to how much they have succeeded in getting the women to develop interest in politics is another issue on its own. This reporter interviewed some women in their various capacities and their various responses give a clear indication of how far women in Sierra Leone may go to making inroads into political governance.
Mrs. Fatmata Sesay a house wife told this reporter that she belonged to a political party and she has been taking part in the activities of the party through voting and attending political rallies, noting that she cannot take much active part in politics because of her responsibility as a house wife. She added that her husband is hostile regarding her participation in politics especially vying for elective positions.
Cecilia Williams who is a market woman said that she is a member of political party but she is unable to aspire for elective positions because of her level of education. She said she has been encouraging women to support their fellow women and for them to take part in the coming elections, adding that women can be very good leaders if elected into public offices.
Madam Hawanatu Bangura a civil servant told said that she can only take part in elections by voting but cannot go further even though she is educated, noting that she doesn’t have the required finances to go into politics and she is also afraid of the violence that is most times associated with politics in Sierra Leone.
Sunkarie Kamara, the Mayor of Makeni who is the only elected female Mayor in Sierra Leone said in her council they have achieved exemplary gender balance of almost 50% men and 50% women. “I would advise women here to take full advantage of their capacities. From my experience, persistence and being adamant is key. I was intimidated and silenced but I remained steadfast. Only then they realised that I was being serious, she said.”
The Public Relation Officer of the All Political Parties Women Association (APPWA) Madam Husainatu Jalloh-Randull said that many women have been coming out to participate in election, noting that as an organization, they have been capacitating women to take active part in elections.
She said funding their project has been challenging as donor funds are not forthcoming and it has been very difficult for them to sensitize women on election nationwide. She called on women to support their fellow women in elections as it will help them to achieve the required objective, noting that they will continue to engage the relevant stakeholders in ensuring that women take active part in these coming elections.