Members of Parliament on Tuesday, 15th November, 2022 enacted into law a progressive piece of legislation, โThe Gender Equality and Womenโs Empowerment Act 2022โ.
The Act seeks, among other things, to address gender imbalances with a specific focus on the following:
At least 30% representation in Cabinet;
At least 30% representation in Parliament
At least 30% of all appointment as Ambassadors/High Commissioners;
At least 30% of all appointment in Local Councils;
At least 30% of all appointment in the
Civil Service;
At least 30% of all appointment in private institutions with more than 25 employees;
Maternity leave extended from 12 weeks to 14 weeks;
Financial inclusion for women;
Mainstreaming gender requirements across all sectoral policies and legal frameworks;
Gender-responsive and gender-sensitive budgeting;
The creation of a multi-sectoral Gender Steering Committee to oversee the implementation of the Act has been agreed.
The Minister of Gender and Childrenโs Affairs, Madam Manty Tarawalli thanked Members of Parliament for enacting โA progressive piece of legislationโ
She said, โThis legislation affirms President Julius Maada
Bioโs unwavering commitment to placing women at the centre of national development, transforming the lives of women, providing for the statutory empowerment and representation of women, promoting and protecting womenโs rights, and creating a progressive Sierra Leoneโ.
Ibrahim Tommy of CARL wrote on social media yesterday, โThis is a huge step forwardโ.
