The Sierra Leone Female Parliamentary Caucus (SLeFPaC) has commenced a two-day capacity building and training workshop in Freetown.

The workshop was led by Hon. Bernadette Wuyata Songa at City Council Conference Center on Wednesday 29 May 2024.

The workshop was intended to enhance the understanding of the female MPs on the Gender Equality and Women’s Employment (GEWE) Act, gender sensitive oversight methodologies, effective advocacy strategies, gender based violence, women’s rights and legislative processes.

In her welcome address, the Deputy Director, Department for Programs, Research and Partnership (DePReP), Mary Koroma, in her welcome address, used the opportunity to stress on the importance and existence of Female Caucus in light of promoting the agenda of women.

She explained the purpose of the workshop and reiterated that building knowledge and understanding of the MPs were essential concerns.

The Deputy Director also acknowledged UNDP support towards the workshop.

In her declaration of purpose, the Director General of Parliament, Mrs. Finda F. Fraser, tanked all for their participation.

She underscored the role played by the government of Sierra Leone on the improvement of women’s rights and leadership.

The Director General informed all that the workshop would build the understanding and knowledge of female MPs to effectively deliver in that aspect.

She assured MPs that through collaboration and capacity building, participants would make inroads in advocacy for women’s empowerment and expressed hope that the outcome of the workshop would create great impact.

In her statement, the President of  SLeFPaC expressed happiness over the conduct of the workshop and went on to thank her predecessor and other members for their tremendous efforts. She also acknowledged the effort of UNDP’s support for supporting them in that direction.

The MP said it was timely to enrich, build, and empower their capacity for onwards empowerment of other women to change the situation.

She recalled the passage of laws relating to women and girls’ rights.

For the purpose of the workshop, she said it was prudent to use the opportunity to implement the GEWE Act and called on all and sundry to support women’s leadership.

“As we are here, let us make use of the opportunity,” she noted.

The Deputy Leader 2 of Government Business Hon.Emerson Saa Lamina, said until women’s issues are taking above politics otherwise it would be difficult for them to achieve more than what they have done.

The MP stressed on female MPs understanding of GEWE document and praised the nation in implementing the law.

He decried the traditional and customary practices that discriminate against women.

He heaped praises on former leaders and commended President Bio on his role in empowering women.

“The MP did comparative analysis internationally on women’s in politics,” he said.

He asked women not to be arrogant in order to achieve more than what they have achieved.

He also asked them to properly understand the GEWE Act and the Public Elections Act to be in line with President Bio’s agenda and to continue their advocacy work.

The Leader of Government Business, Hon. Sahr Mathew Nyuma, thanked all the participants and staff members.

He used the opportunity to speak about challenges faced by women through emancipation. The leader used the opportunity to urge women to unite and underscore their efforts in that direction.  He advised women to follow the trend and reiterated for their commitment as important in the fight.

He asked females to promote and believe in the agenda and heaped praises for the passage of the GEWE and other acts.

The leader informed participants that some people were against them during the passage of the same act.

He condemned all forms of discrimination against women and assured them that he would always continue to fight for women like he has always demonstrated.

He advised women to stand up and fight all odds relating to women’s issues. “Irrespective of our political differences, let us always fight for the interests of women,” he noted.

He went on to state that women hardly support their colleagues in such fight.

Earlier in his keynote address, the Acting Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, talked about women capacity building and underscored the critical legislative geared towards women’s empowerment.

He said women’s empowerment talk should not be limited only to those in politics and those who hold positions of trust.

He asked the Caucus to look into matters relating to economic challenges and agriculture and cited the tremendous role by women in taking care of children and in doing daily domestic tasks.

The acting speaker reiterated that time had gone with women being seen as housewives and advised the Caucus to conduct research on certain activities of women in light of addressing their challenges.

The acting speaker said that the Caucus should be able to raise their voices on womanhood, values, and work in line with President Bio’s agenda.

He advised the female MPs to unite and work together.

“Keep the spirit of woman to achieve your 50 percent,” he maintained.

The workshop is being moderated by the Director of Parliamentary and Public Relations Department, Sheku Lamain Turay.