Ambassador Perry's Speech

Reception and Forum for Female Councilors (Thursday, September 18, 2008)

Honored guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

I am honored to be here this evening to recognize your achievements and successes in the recent local council elections.  It is heartening to see so many powerful women here to show their solidarity and commitment to causes we all believe are so crucial to the development of Sierra Leone.  We commend all the female candidates and appreciate the unique and valuable contributions of several key African women leaders who came to Sierra Leone to share their experiences and offer encouragement.  I personally was so impressed to see that the number of women councilors increased by 65% in the most recent local elections.  Now, every local council in Sierra Leone has at least one woman’s voice.  We still have a long way to go, but that is real progress.

Naturally, the cause of women’s rights is very dear to my heart as a woman, and it is a key goal for Americans and very much in the fore front today.  Women in Sierra Leone, as in the entire world, make up more than half the population and, therefore, merit a strong voice in how their respective countries develop.  You have shown – through your hard work and dedication – that Sierra Leonean women are as capable of leadership as their male counterparts, and sometimes are more so.

Women are the driving force in many areas of politics, business, family life, and health.  Yet the roles and rights of women vary from country to country and from area to area within a country.  Women who may have very strong roles in making decisions for their families may be subjugated in politics.  Women who run businesses may lack the power to make decisions about their own health, or, even face obstacles in obtaining essential credit to grow their enterprises.

Your voices should be loud when discussions of education, health, and human rights are on the table, but they should also be heard at discussions of fiscal policy, national security, and international relations.  Your participation broadens the political dialogue in this country – presenting new perspectives, new agendas, and new means to bring Sierra Leone forward.

In the United States, we have fought for women’s rights for centuries, and we still have a long way to go, but we are proud to be able to help women around the world advance their own causes to make their countries better.

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about the United States government’s role in promoting women’s empowerment in Sierra Leone.  As many of you know, the National Democratic Institute, or NDI, and IFES are almost entirely funded by the United States government through the US Agency for International Development and the National Endowment for Democracy.

In Sierra Leone, these organizations have made important contributions by monitoring the national elections and encouraging women’s participation in politics.  Specifically, for the local elections, USAID provided $1.3 million in a general election support initiative and $1 million for a “Women as Candidates” initiative.  These programs are further evidence of our commitment to a peaceful democratic nation and to increasing women's political participation.  Empowering women through a variety of development and capacity building programs, USAID has made a profound impact on the women of Sierra Leone.

Now, with the elections behind us, it is time for the real work of democratic progress to begin.  It is time for a peaceful, reconciliatory dialogue among the political parties and the ethnic groups of this country.  Political unity after a divisive election can be difficult to achieve, but it is essential to the wellbeing of the nation.  Looking forward, we hope to see a more open political arena in 2012, which encourages healthy public debate in a peaceful environment and is devoid of personal threats and intimidation.

The United States has been a pioneer of women’s rights around the world for decades, drawing on the growing pains we dealt with in our own history, the massive strides we’ve made in the past few decades, and the realization of how far we still have to go.  Our own government, in the executive, legislative and judicial branches is testament to how far we have come – and we honor the women who helped us achieve what we have so far.

The United States supports the efforts of organizations like NDI and IFES because we strongly believe that their goals for women are essential to stability, progress, and the advancement of democracy around the world.  Our involvement in the struggle for women’s rights has led to improvements in the lives of women and their roles in their communities and societies all over the world, including in Sierra Leone.

While the donor community has the potential to make an impact on local issues, we believe that the best way to support Sierra Leone is to provide Sierra Leoneans the means and the capacity to support themselves.  Working with local NGOs, we are able to ensure that our financial contributions are put to use where the women of Sierra Leone know they will make the most profound impact.  You are the only ones who know what you need to move forward.

I know all of you here today will be going out to share what you have learned through the process of political participation -- those of you who were successful in your campaigns alongside your sisters who did not win at the ballot boxes. All of you are uniquely poised to make a difference, not only for women, but for Sierra Leone.  Relish your role; your daughters, and their daughters again, who will enjoy their political participation as a positive effect of your efforts, will honor you.

I would like to extend my congratulations to all of you for the achievements you have made.  By standing up and being heard, you have gained ground for the cause of women.  I am confident that you will continue your noble work to secure the future of this country for the next generation.