By Jarrah Kawusu-Konte
President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma has kicked off a week-long US visit with a Global Leaders’ meeting at the UN on the topic – “Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: A Commitment to Action”.
Speaker after speaker have reiterated commitment to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. President Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia noted that although her election as the first female president in Africa was an indication of her country’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, more, she said, needs to be done.
President Koroma is expected to dilate on the progress Sierra Leone has made in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment shortly when he takes the podium.
Being at State House over these years, I am sure the president will highlight some of the key achievements his government has made in this area, especially on the global, regional and national fronts.
Meanwhile, under this government a lot of legislative inroads have been made in fostering the cause of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
(1) Domestic Violence Act was passed in 2007;
(2) Devolution of Estate Acts was also passed in 2007;
(3) Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act of 2009;
(4) Child Rights Act also enacted in 2007;
(5) Chieftaincy Act 2009; and
(6) Sexual Offences Act passed in 2012.
