Oxfam International has vowed support for women in Sierra Leone to fully participate in governance. This disclosure was made by the Programme Director of Oxfam, Madam Penny Lawrence while addressing newsmen on Friday 10th June 2011 at the Oxfam Head Office on Wilkinson Road in Freetown. According to Mrs. Lawrence, Oxfam will financially support women to participate in politics in the next coming presidential, parliamentary and local government elections slated for 2012.
Penny Lawrence went on that she recently paid a visit to Kailahun and Koinadugu districts specifically to support and encourage women to be in governance and work side by side with the men, adding that she also encouraged them to develop community organizations gearing towards the promotion of this campaign. She said women participation in governance can enhance rapid development and therefore, should not be left in the hands of men alone.
She cited that, since the establishment of Oxfam in 1998, they have been supporting deprived schools and pupils and still continue to do the same, but that they have also decided to include issues of women's development in their programme. This, she noted, would be achieved through their support for women's participation in politics.
The Programme Director further stated that Oxfam has always provided support to villages that are in need of safe drinking water as well as improved education, among other major needs.
She maintained that Oxfam has now designed mechanisms for the promotion of women's affairs with special focus on women who wants to participate in politics but lack the financial capability.
