The fears of Sierra Leone`s women

With attention appearing to focus more and more on who eventually wins Sierra Leone`s November 17 polls, a number of important issues are at risk of being overlooked.

One such issue is the plight of women. They have been clamouring for increased recognition in terms of decision making and governance. But they are also concerned about peace and security. In fact for most women these two are inseparable.

Last month hundreds of women, clad in white, marched through the streets of Freetown calling for political tolerance and a non-violent poll. The marchers, comprising female politicians, market women and women from other works of life, came out under the auspices of the All Political Parties Women Association (APPWA) of Sierra Leone.

“Elections are not fighting, politics is not war…we are all one,” the women chanted as they marched from the city centre to the national stadium at the West end of the capital.

APPWA has been at the center of the years of struggle of Sierra Leonean women.

It comprise all women from the 10 registered political parties in the country, and its main goal is to foster peace, coexistence and political tolerance in a country sharply divided by tribal and regional party politics.

Last month`s march was held purposely to express concern over the potential for violence in the November polls, but also to send message on women`s participation in governance.

“When violence comes, it is we the women that suffer, so we should call on our sons, brothers and husbands to stay away from violence,” said Gertrude Karimu, Secretary General of APPWA.

The protest also gave the women room to reflect on their dismal performance at the political front with the men counterpart in the recently concluded primaries.

A particular focus was the final figures from the National Electoral Commission which shows that still women fall short of achieving the so-called 30 percent quota in governance.

“We fought for 11 years, it is we the women who were killed and raped… and when time comes for election, they give us small positions. But that will not deter us. We will continue to fight not just to participate but to take leadership roles,” said Isata Jabbi-Kabbah, former APPWA president and wife of Sierra Leone`s former president Ahmed Tijan Kabbah.