Sierra Leone
From our own experience, sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the ful...
From our own experience, sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the full and effective participation of women in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peace processes, and post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding. A few weeks ago, the Security Council itself acknowledged the efforts that Sierra Leone is making towards the prevention and resolution of conflict and in peacebuilding. In resolution 1941 (2010), the Council commended the Government of Sierra Leone for recognizing the important role of women in peacebuilding, with reference to resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), by establishing national strategies relating to women, peace and security.
Today, we can boast of a national action plan launched by President Koroma on...
Today, we can boast of a national action plan launched by President Koroma on 8 June, which was developed through a process that has been acclaimed by many as highly participatory and inclusive. This comprehensive plan includes a monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure that all actors are accountable for its full implementation. Prior to the launching of our national action plan, we also launched an overarching national gender strategic plan, with which the national action plan has been harmonized with a view to mainstreaming its implementation into the President's Agenda for Change.
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.
Access to justice for our women has been reinforced through the enactment of ...
Access to justice for our women has been reinforced through the enactment of the three gender responsive laws: the Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act, the Domestic Violence Act, and the Devolution of Estates Act. These laws are designed to promote women's human rights and protect women against discrimination.
The illicit flow and use of small arms and light weapons during the 11-year r...
The illicit flow and use of small arms and light weapons during the 11-year rebel war was devastating, particularly for our women and girls. In this regard, the enactment of the National Commission on Small Arms Act of 2010 and the formal establishment of the National Commission should, among other things, enhance our capacity to address the issue of violence, including gender-based and sexual violence. We have also established a National Committee on Genderbased Violence to look into cases of abuse and violence against women and girls. Moreover, pillar 3 of the Sierra Leone national action plan specifically deals with the prosecution and punishment of perpetrators as a way of addressing the question of impunity for sexual and gender-based violence.
Among other impressive strides taken by the Government of Sierra Leone to imp...
Among other impressive strides taken by the Government of Sierra Leone to improve the welfare of our women and girls are affirmative action for girlchild education and the recent adoption of the free health care delivery initiative for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under the age of five.
We are well aware that it is our national responsibility to implement the provisions of this groundbreaking resolution. We acknowledge the support of the United Nations system and the international community as a whole in what we have been able to achieve since resolution 1325 (2000) was adopted 10 years ago. We count on their continued and sustained support, especially that of United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone, in this noble venture.