Sierra Leone women – equality and fair treatment

Mariama Dumbuya: Sierra Leone Telegraph: 14 June 2018:

It was while I was attending the funeral service of the late Madam Abator Davidson at Christ Church during that I thought of writing this piece. She was a dedicated Sierra Leonean woman who spent her life, advocating and campaigning for equality and the empowerment of Sierra Leonean women and girls in the interest of progress, peace democracy and equal rights.

The status quo of Sierra Leonean women in Sierra Leone has constantly been part of my quiet moments. However, that very afternoon the finality of the plight of Sierra Leonean women hit me with the realisation that we have got a long way to go (if at all possible) in achieving equality for women in Sierra Leone.

This is how it unfolded that afternoon at Christ Church culminating to this:

The church music, address/sermon by the female preacher was on point and apt. The service was very beautiful and uplifting. It was full of human rights activists paying their last respect to a sister in the struggle. As the service progressed, I reflected about Sierra Leonean women and the equality and discrimination they have to live with.

I reflected on the late Madam Abator and the numerous charitable non-profit women’s rights organisations that were in that Church paying their last respect to her. My attention was drawn to the inscription design and print on the 50/50 group ashobi fabric worn by the lady sitting in front of me during the service.

The message on the said ashobi caught my attention; it depicts a picture of man and woman holding hands. The words underneath the picture reads “Equal Representation”. Other printed words were: “A woman’s place is in Governance”.

I took a picture in deep reflection, pondering in deep thought that the late woman, as co-founder of the 50/50 group and 2nd President did not live to see the equality, envisaged by the 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone that she spent the better part of her life fighting for.

I then became sad because sitting there at that funeral service of the late woman, I cannot honestly in my opinion say that Sierra Leonean women have achieved that equality. The struggle simply continues.

The Late woman has played her part and her life’s curtain has fallen ending her role on life’s stage. May her soul rest in perfect peace. She played her part well.

It saddens me further that she laid there in her coffin soon to buried leaving the fact that despite all that she and other valiant Sierra Leonean women and men have fought for, yet  this year we see the present Government’s most recent appointment of heads of parastatals, agencies and security sector devoid of female representation.

It was a shock to see that out of 18 appointments NOT A SINGLE FEMALE WAS APPOINTED.

The only way I can help fathom such exclusion of women is to just assume that: to err is human…and the new Government on a  “new direction” is on a “learning curve”.

Since that day I continue to reflect and try to convince myself that there’s some form of equality for women in Sierra Leone. We have over the years had women occupy various key positions in governance, yet it has never been enough. Needless to say, let the past remain in the past.

The present defines the future so what we see now is what defines our future, the future of Sierra Leonean women.

The election Manifesto of the present SLPP led Government, under the rubic “Human Development” and further articulated in clauses 3.3.2 Empowering our Women states:

“In the New Direction, we will promote gender equality, equity, empowerment and the protection of the rights of women… Our specific actions will be to …increase the chances of women in politics through… making it mandatory for all political parties to enact gender policies that will specify among other things a threshold for women in executive positions and local councils and parliamentary positions. Review and enact the minimum 30% Quota bill which creates the chance for women to hold 30% of positions in elective and appointive positions”

In the light of such declaration of intention, it is to say the least disheartening to see from this Government appointments devoid of female representation. Come on, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

In memory of the late woman and all those men and women who have strived and suffered in Sierra Leone dead and/or alive for female emancipation and equality and fairness for Sierra Leonean women such appointments excluding women should never be repeated.

Those women and men from the past and present who have in diverse ways suffered humiliation, abuse, disgrace and assault in pursuing equality for all and continue to suffer such .

It will be beneficial for our dear Sierra Leone if Sierra Leoneans, and in particular, our present Government consider the non-discriminatory constitutional provisions, International instruments, conventions and protocols in making all future appointments in every sector of Governance!.

Let there be equality for all so that “one day” soon we will finally be heading successfully towards the “new direction” because it is only together that we will make the difference.

Finally, there are in abundance, credible trustworthy Sierra Leonean women, even within the SLPP, who can serve faithfully, diligently and can successfully deliver on any given mandate set in any appointment.

I feel uplifted, when as I was finishing this short article, I heard the good news of the appointment of the first ever female Attorney General (if duly sworn). This is a singular significant step in the right direction.

There’s a beacon of hope that “one day” will surely come when Sierra Leone women will be treated equally as Sierra Leonean men.

We have many credible, honest, hardworking Sierra Leonean women who can deliver and produce positive results just like our dear men. Sierra Leonean women make up over 51 percent of the population, so women should and must be part of decision making and governance in every sector in Sierra Leone.

We need more women in governance and decision making. Few key provisions to note in relation to women’s equality and fair treatment:

➡The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

“PART I in Article I of CEDAW defines discrimination against women as follows;

“For the purposes of the present Convention, the term “discrimination against women” shall mean any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.”

Further, part II of Article 7  inter alia stipulates that;

“States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life of the country and, in particular, shall ensure to women, on equal terms with men, the right:
(b) To participate in the formulation of government policy and the implementation thereof and to hold public office and perform all public functions at all levels of government;

(c) To participate in non-governmental organizations and associations concerned with the public and political life of the country.”

Furthermore, article 8 ensures that;

“States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure to women, on equal terms with men and without any discrimination, the opportunity to represent their Governments at the international level and to participate in the work of international organizations”

Sierra Leone signed CEDAW on the 21st day of September 1988 and ratified same on the 11th day of November 1988

➡Our 1991 Constitution Act No 6 even with it lapses awaiting referendum(not forgetting the  infamous discriminatory section  27 (4) )does not support exclusion of women in decision making and governance.

Section 8 (2) (a) provides that in furtherance of social order;
“ every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations, and opportunities before the law, and the state shall ensure that every citizen has an equal right and access to all opportunities and benefits based on merit:”

Section 8 (3) provides that the state shall direct it policy towards ensuring;
(a)Every citizen, without discrimination on any grounds whatsoever, shall have the opportunity for securing adequate means of livelihood as well as adequate opportunities to secure suitable employment”

➡The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 which provides” a common standard of achievement for all people’s and all nations”.

Article 1 deals with the right to equality.

Article 2 deals with freedom from discrimination.

Article 21 deals with inter alia the right to participate in government.

➡The Maputo Protocol is also known as the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.

The Protocol guarantees rights to women including the right to take part in the political process, to social and political equality with men.

Article 1 deals with elimination of discrimination against women.

Article 9 deals with right to participation in political and decision making process.

Our Parliament ratified the Maputo protocol on the 2nd day of July 2015 and signed same the 11th day of July 2003.
Oxford Dictionary of Law 6th edition defines ratification as;

“The approval of a treaty, usually by the head of state (or by the head of state and legislature). This takes place when documents of ratification are either exchanged or deposited with the named depositary. Normally a treaty states expressly whether it will bind a party as soon as it is signed by that party’s representative or whether it requires ratification. The Vienna Convention on Treaties (1969) provides that when a treaty does not specify whether or not ratification is required, reference will be made to the parties intention…”

About the author

Mariama Dumbuya is a Barrister and Solicitor, and Past President of L.A.W.Y.E.R.S. She is a member and Legal Adviser of the 50/50 Group.

Editor’s Note:

Since this article was written, president Julius Maada Bio has yesterday 13 June 2018, appointed the country’s first female Attorney General and Minister of Justice. She is Dr. Priscilla Schwartz.