Association for Children in Crisis promote Women in Governance

Association for Children in Crisis ended a one day workshop on gender non-violence and promoting women in Governance at CCSL compound on the 11^th September, 2012.

Giving a overview of the workshop, the Director of Association for Children in Crisis said women have the right to participate in politics because women’s right to vote and to be voted for has now become a must feature of any democracy, adding that in terms of absolute numbers, women who are eligible to vote are a potentially strong force and as a group they are quite capable of influencing the outcome of any election or referendum worldwide.

He further said that the proportion of women in the voting age population that is 18 years and over in 1985 was 50.2% compared to 49.8% of males, noting that by 2005, the percentage of women has been estimated to increase to 51.7% while that of males is expected to fall to 48.3%. He said women should vote in order to exercise their basic right as provided for in the constitution, to have a say in choosing their leaders, for them to ensure that their voices are finally hear to influence the way parliament impinges on their everyday lives and how they themselves could become qualified as local or parliamentary candidates.

The facilitators Kadiatu Dumbuya and Rev. Jan Bangura told the participants that though the constitution does not prevent women from voting and to be voted for, many socio-cultural and other factors hinder women, adding that many Sierra Leoneans believe that it is not part of their culture for women to have the same voice as men in decision-making. Noting that today women head a majority of homes, it is therefore not right for these women to be excluded from decision-making that affects the national development processes and the status of women.

The facilitators further outlined some of the things that are breaking the barriers to women’s participation in politics and women’s empowerment ranging from lack of time, money, access to education and training, psychological lack of confidence, fear of failure, and dislike of the culture of politics.

The workshop ended with a group work presentation of participants for the way forward.

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