By Ronald Joe Morovia
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) has engaged Political Parties on the finding of their Win with Women survey that investigated the challenges and barriers to women’s inclusion in politics in the country.
Addressing representatives of political parties on findings of the survey of the level of women inclusion in politics in the country, the Program Director of the National Democratic Institute Mohamed Ibrahim Konneh said the survey was informed by observation of the low representation of women on politics over the years. He continued the survey focused on the challenges impeding women participation and what political parties have been doing to address these challenges.
According to their findings Konneh disclosed that bullying, harassment, violence against women and the lack of protected space for women are among the many reasons for low women representation in politics in the country. He continued political parties have no regulations that guarantee the inclusion of women when it comes to elective positions. He further that the lack of mechanism to address harassment, violence suffered by women in political parties are another challenge hindering their participation in politics.
Konneh continued that women’s participation in politics in Sierra Leone has always been a challenge mainly due to the limited protected space and support from political parties and those around them. The Win with Women survey by the National Democratic Institute which focused on the four political parties in parliament identified barriers affecting women’s inclusion.
The engagement with other political parties on the findings follows earlier engagement with the four many political parties on which the survey was conducted.
Participants from the different political parties present described the engagement as timely while pledging commitment to enhancing women’s inclusion in their parties.
The discussion will be followed with development of an action plan to serve as a national roadmap for women’s inclusion in politics.
