Chadia
Talib-Bo, Southern Sierra Leone
If we (Sierra Leone) as a nation are serious
about realizing the Millennium Development Goals and also about the general
wellbeing of our country, we collectively must make a millennial offer. A key
step in that direction is giving women due access to every sphere of society
particularly so at the political arena.
Such a move will not only make women feel safe
and secured, but it also will open the way for them to contribute effectively
by showcasing their talents as equal partners in nation advancement.
Women must be let to exercise their
God-given rights to associate, assemble and participate. They must, above all,
be respected.
A core principle of democracy demands
the unhindered participation of all, including women. Women’s involvement in
politics does not mean merely supporting one party or the other or voting for
this or that candidate. It also means having women, too, vying for political
positions alongside men, and not being discriminated against based on their
gender, either by the electorate or in the process of appointments to political
positions.
Elections after elections we see Sierra
Leonean women being relegated to performing menial chores for politicians such
as cooking, singing and dancing at political rallies, campaigning and
organizing meetings.
In conflict situations such as civil
wars, women become primary targets for all forms of abuses, specifically
because combatants viewed them as the cohesive force of society that should be
crushed if they should invoke terror, weaken and defeat their enemies.
However, whenever there is genuine
desire for peace-making following conflicts, warring parties consider it
important to get women involved as mediators and peacemakers, knowing that they
bring to the process the deep sense of humanity that is lacking in the mindset
of the warring parties.
This speaks to the fact that even
those who are bent on suppressing women, always, are very much aware that women’s
inputs are equally essential to the success and vitality of every human
community. Notwithstanding, the male-dominating political class of the world
continues to ignore this fact just so to keep women at the bottom and discard
them once their goals have been achieved.
Instead, the derogatory term of
women being the ‘weaker sex' - structured in bogus definitions -continues to be
used to classify womanhood. And, there is little effort to free the world of
that patriarchal-grip, which still keeps women dependent on men, economically
and otherwise.
It will be unfair not to credit the
country for taking steps in empowering women especially lately with the
appointments of some into leadership positions. However, that has not
translated much into addressing the problems that plaque their full entry into
the political realm.
A series of resolutions have been
passed at various International conventions. The Elimination of all forms of
Violence against Women (CEDAW-1991) and the Convention on Civil and Political
Rights (CCPR) are two examples. But we are yet to see full enforcements of many
of these laws. The bulk of them remain mere color-scribbling on white papers.
The United Nations defines violence
against women as any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely
to result in physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including
threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether
occurring in public or in private life.
But words in themselves are not
enough to deliver. Sierra Leone must establish a separate parliamentary
committee on women’s affairs; one that also guarantees their involvement in
politics. We must let actions speak.
Countries like Rwanda, Pakistan,
Spain and Sweden have made tremendous strides in addressing the issue. We owe
it to ourselves, to our country and to future generations. We must take the lead.
The many difficult challenges our
women contend with, daily, have been sending negative signals to a great number
of them particularly those who want to venture into politics.
All we need to do is ensure that
women get the freedom and protection due them to participate fully in politics.
And NOW is the time to act. We cannot afford to prolong the effort any further
Chadia Talib
is a writer, Women’s right advocate and entrepreneur. She lives in Bo. Southern
Sierra Leone.
