Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. At present, women in Sierra Leone make up 12 percent of the country’s Parliament, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which tracks representation in national parliaments around the world. Women also hold four offices in the 28-member cabinet of President Julius Maada Bio, who came to power in 2018.
On Thursday, Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio signed into law a new Bill entitled the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act designed to raise the number of women in the country’s top jobs – including parliamentary seats and cabinet posts – to 30 percent.
Referring to women’s participation in politics and contesting elections, Bio stressed that his government would do its utmost to “end the impunity or violence against women” in elections and public life and hold accountable “all persons and entities found guilty of such violence”.
The president, who is seeking reelection the country’s June 2023 presidential vote, said that he expects the Bill to “revolutionize” Sierra Leone government’s engagement with women through “making them equal partners in our task to build a strong and vibrant country”.
Besides the public sector, the new law would also force companies in the private sector to employ females in 30 percent of senior jobs. Failure to comply and refusing to grant women equal pay and at least 14 weeks’ maternity leave could result in a fine of 50,000 new leones ($2,580), and a jail sentence of at least three years.
According to the United Nations’ 2020 Gender Development Index (GDI), Sierra Leone’s international ranking is 182nd out of 189 as regards sex equality.
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