Sierra Leone: Female Candidates Face Harassment

June 16, 2008 – (Concord Times) A local non government organisation Friday confirmed that female independent candidates for the local council elections are facing harassment from their opponents in their wards.

Speaking at a forum held at the Santano House in Freetown national coordinator gender empowerment movement Barbara Bangura observed that women have always been victims of political harassment in the campaigns leading up to the July 5 elections.

"Women also have the right to lead. They spend their resources, invest time and all other things like their male counterparts. Why should they be harassed?" she asked.

Bangura called on all to stop such harassments.

Representative from the All People Congress Mohamed Bangura said his party believes in democracy and gender equality.

"The APC never knew anything like harassment in the country," he said noting that victims have not reported the matter to the appropriate people.

He said his government would not tolerate lawlessness, adding that investigations are pending on perpetrators of the alleged harassment.

"We want women to work with us. We are encouraging them everyday," he said.

Independent candidate contesting at ward 336 in Waterloo Lumpa Salamatu Kamara said female candidates are not safe and suggested that they need protection from the authorities.

She explained that she was harassed by APC supporters during one of her campaign trails last Thursday.

"I came to Waterloo police station and reported the matter," she said adding police officers she met refused to come to her aid.

From:http://allafrica.com/stories/200806161008.html