Increasing the participation and representation of our women in peace and sec...

Increasing the participation and representation of our women in peace and security programmes within a democratic governance structure for us is key. To ensure that the role of women in the local Government machinery is enhanced, the Local Government Act stipulates gender parity at the municipal level. We have also ensured a significant improvement in the participation of women in the security and justice sectors by appointing a number of women to senior management positions. In 2008, for instance, there was a landmark appointment. A woman was appointed as Chief Justice of the judiciary of Sierra Leone. Nine of the 21 judges are women, while four of the seven Supreme Court justices are also women. The first female brigadier in Sierra Leone — also the first in West Africa — was recently appointed as a major step towards the implementation of the equal opportunities policy adopted in 2009 by the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces.