Makeni city hosts Inter Parliamentary Union
Makeni, May 20 (SLENA) – Inter parliamentary Union (IPU), an international organization supporting parliament and parliamentarians around the world was in Makeni city this past weekend for a one-day awareness raising on gender based violence. (Photo: IPU focal person, Hon. Emma Kowa advocating women and girls’ rights )
The outreach programme attracted local authorities in the chiefdom, including chiefs, youth and women’s groups and girls.
IPU’s focal person, SLPP Member of Parliament, Hon. Emma Kowa was guest speaker while the Makeni City Chief Administrator, Victor K. Kamara welcomed participants, urging all and sundry to treat women and girls’ issues with the desired attention.
In her opening statement, Hon. Emma Kowa said IPU has been supporting the parliament of Sierra Leone on democracy and good governance, stating that IPU and the Government of Sierra Leone have been very supportive of the parliament of Sierra Leone to coordinate outreach programmes on gender based violence.
She noted that though data from the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone Police shows that violence against women and girls is on the increase, parliament has however enacted laws to protect women’s rights in Sierra Leone.
In her presentation on violence against women, Hon. Hannah Songuwa Bundu said violence against women is a global phenomenon and outlined the various forms of violence women endure including economic and cultural violence.
Hon. Abubakarr Koroma did a presentation on international and regional frameworks, citing the Convention on the Elimination and Discrimination against Women which he said 188 countries around the world have ratified.
In his presentation on domestic and sexual violence, Hon. Patrick Kargbo informed participants about the challenges around domestic and sexual violence and urged participants to respect the laws governing the rights of individuals.
By Sulaiman Bah
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