2007 Press Releases

Elimination of Violence Against Women

Freetown, November 28, 2007
Contact: Danna Van Brandt
Tel: 076-515-000

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Freetown hosted a panel discussion to commemorate Elimination of Violence against Women Day on Wednesday, November 28. Ambassador June Cater Perry was joined on the panel by experts from the 50/50 Group, LAWCLA, and ENCISS, and over 30 men and women prominent in the field of gender issues participated in the vibrant discussion.  In her opening remarks, the Ambassador stressed the importance of the international community working in partnership with Sierra Leoneans to empower women in society and eliminate the stigma associated with violence against women.
 
Ambassador Perry highlighted post’s Democracy and Human Rights Fund grant to an organization in Kono called Male Association for Gender Equality (MAGE).  The project's goal is to sensitize men and boys on the extent, forms, and impact of gender-based violence in communities in the Kailahun and Kono Districts to promote gender equality.  They approach the issue from a unique perspective, exploring the role of men and boys as perpetrators of violence against women and girls and the possible causes of their behavior.  The project aims to change male attitudes and behaviors, in the hopes of changing them.  The Ambassador also emphasized the United State Agency for International Development’s programs in Sierra Leone that focus on economic development and empowerment of women and youth.  Finally, she stressed the the United States Government’s broader initiatives to improve the status of women worldwide through the Global Fund and PEPFAR. 

The first panelist, Mr. Melron Nicol-Wilson is the Director of the Lawyers Centre for Legal Assistance (LAWCLA) and a Lecturer in Human Rights Law at the University of Sierra Leone and is a former Human Rights Law Teaching Fellow at Columbia Law School in New York.  LAWCLA is a public interest Human Rights Law Centre which provides free legal services to those who can not afford to hire attorneys.  It also conducts research on human rights issues and facilitates the training of Law Enforcement and public officials in Human Rights Standards.  Mr. Nicol-Wilson illuminated the laws in existence in Sierra Leone to protect the rights of women and the efforts of his organization to empower women who are in abusive situations to see justice served.

The second panelist, Ms. Lovetta A.R Pratt is the Project Officer on Gender issues for Enhancing the Interaction and Interface between Civil Society and the State to Improve Poor People's Lives (ENCISS), and is a former President of Young Women Leaders Sierra Leone (YoWLS).  ENCISS aims to strengthen the voice and capacity of Civil Society Organizations and of local government to speak out, share information, collaborate, and respond to the needs of the people.  ENCISS works with youth, government, women, men and civil society, so that the people can participate in decision making and planning for development.  Ms. Pratt emphasized the need to empower women to speak up, in a society where women are often too timid to do so.

The final panelist, Mrs. Harriett Turay is the president of the 50/50 Group and the Vice President of the United Methodist Women's Organization (UMWO) in Sierra Leone.  The 50/50 Group aims to increase women’s participation in politics and to gain equal representation for women in government and society. It encourages and empowers women to seek and hold public office, and lobbies for legal protections against gender-based discrimination.  The group was recently honored with an award from the National Democratic Institute, which Mrs. Turay accepted in Washington.  Mrs. Turay spoke on the variety of forms violence against women can take and the political activities needed in terms of lobbying legislators and increasing women’s participation in government.

In the time following the panelists’ presentations, the questions and comments came to the panelists rapid fire from the participants, many of whom were women activists themselves.  Questions about what actions would be the most helpful and about a new law improving widow’s rights to claim portions of their late husbands’ estates were particularly interesting.  Comments were varied, coming from a university librarian, a pastor, members of civil society, and the media about the importance of preventing violence against women wherever possible and prosecuting offenders when they are identified.  In addition, many participants spoke about the need to change the cultural outlook of some Sierra Leoneans, who may object to women exercising their rights.