SIERRA LEONE: Female MPs Excels in Commonwealth Politics

The Sierra Leone delegation to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) has received showers of praises from the Commonwealth Women Parliamentary Committee Chairman at the Rivers State House of Assembly, Port Harcourt, when it (Sierra Leone) was singled out as the leader out of the seventeen (17) Commonwealth African Countries, currently consolidating its position to end political marginalization and harmful practices against women.

Hon. Prof. Sheila D. Tlou singled out Sierra Leone as the leader, when chairing a session on "Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Move to End Harmful Practices against Women" at the well of the Rivers States House of Assembly, Port Harcourt, during the 4oth Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa region conference.

The CWP Committee Chairman also praised the West African Country for taking the lead in consolidating Female Sierra Leonean Parliamentarians, by forming a Sierra Leone Female Parliamentary Caucus in accordance with other resolutions, including that of Livingstone, Zambia 2008, and October 2008 Abuja accord.

The Four Sierra Leonean delegates including Speaker of Parliament Hon. Mr. Justice Abel Nathaniel Bankole Stronge, ruling All People's Congress (APC) Hon. Rev. Marie Yansanneh, Opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) Hon. Dr. Bernadette Lahai and Parliamentary Editor and Committee Clerk Daniel G. Bockarie were singled out of the seventeen Commonwealth Countries (Africa Region) represented by more than twelve speakers of Parliaments, and more than three hundred African Parliamentarians and Observers world wide, and given a round of applause at the well of the Rivers State, House of Assembly, Port Harcourt.

Speaking on the topic "CWP Move To End Harmful Practices Against Women" at the 40th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference at the Rivers State House of Assembly, Port Harcourt, Chairperson of the "Commonwealth women parliamentarians(CWP) meeting, Hon. Prof. Sheila D. Tlou singled out female Sierra Leonean Parliamentarians as the only set of people that has forged ahead to politically Consolidate women in politics through the formation of a group of women parliamentarians into a Caucus.

The Sierra Leone Female Parliamentary Caucus has seventeen (17=13.7%) out of one hundred and Twenty Four (124) members of Parliament, two (2=8.3%) full cabinet Ministers out of twenty four (24), four (4=19%) Deputy Ministers out of twenty one (21).

Giving a Background to the formation of Sierra Leone Female Parliamentary Caucus, Hon. Rev. Marie Yansanneh said the Caucus brings together all women members of the Sierra Leone Women members of the Sierra Leone House of Parliament and supportive male MP's who subscribe as associate or honorary members.

She said the idea emanated from extensive lobbying and support received from the Women's political rights advocate group, the 50/50group of Sierra Leone by women currently occupying political offices.

She said the overall aim is not only to improve the effectiveness of women members of Parliament through enhancing their capacity to participate and influence legislative processes and providing mutual support, but also to become key and leading player for an engendered legislature in Sierra Leone.

She said the vision is geared towards a United Parliamentary Caucus irrespective of political party affiliation to ensure equality for all, especially women, Children and vulnerable groups by advocating, enacting and monitoring of gender and child sensitive laws and budget in Sierra Leone.

She said the mission is to create a non partisan forum to identify, discuss, adopt and implement issues of common interest, concern and challenges to women Parliamentarians as well as integrating gender children and the vulnerable at all levels of development.

It will help to promote solidarity among women members of Parliament regardless of their political affiliations.

Reacting, Hon. Prof. Sheila D. Tlou thanked the Hon. Rev. Marie Yansaneh for the progress and called on other commonwealth African Countries to join Sierra Leone.

She said some harmful cultural and religious practices including polygamy and payment of prohibitive bride prices are already well known.

"There are some practices by various ethnic groups wherein a prospective bride is expected to sleep with her blood brother as a way of proving to the family to which she is about to be married that she is healthy.´ she said that is by nature oppressive to women, but are not yet in public domain. She said this can only come out when female parliamentarians like that of Sierra Leone, consolidate their position.