Workshop on actualising the Gender Empowerment Bill 2021: Keynote address by the Resident Coordinator Babatunde A. Ahonsi

Actualising the Gender Empowerment Bill 2021

United Nations Resident Coordinator Babatunde A. Ahonsi (PhD)

Keynote Address | Monday, 29 September 2021

Radisson Blu Hotel, Aberdeen, Freetown

Honourable Dr Bernadette Lahai,

Heads of Governmental Agencies and Senior Government Officials,

Colleagues from the UN family and development community,

Civil society leaders and media representatives,

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

In the past year, we have recorded evidence of the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s rights, particularly on the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized women. UNICEF has reported that up to ten million more girls are at risk of becoming child brides as a result of the pandemic.  Gender-based violence was an emergency even before COVID. An estimated 12 million women were unable to access sexual and reproductive health services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with disruption of supplies and services lasting an average of 3 and a half months. School closures and overburdened elder and healthcare services have laid bare the hidden cost of the care economy on women, and the inequalities this perpetuates.  This is an unacceptable situation.

Gender equality is not only a basic human right, but its achievement has enormous socio-economic ramifications. Empowering women fuels thriving economies, spurring productivity and growth. Yet gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched across most societies. Women in all parts of the world suffer violence and discrimination and remain under-represented in decision-making processes.

This explains why over the past several decades, the UN system has made tremendous efforts in advancing gender equality, including through landmark agreements such as the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and others.

The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its accompanying Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires renewed efforts by UN Member States to measure economic, social and environmental progress under the global agenda from a gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) perspective.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 to “Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls” is a prerequisite for and the great enabler of sustainable development and the SDGs as a whole. Unless progress on gender equality is accelerated, the global community will not only fail to achieve SDG 5, it will also forgo the catalytic effect that gender equality can have for the achievement of all the 17 SDGs and the 2030 Agenda more broadly.

UN Sierra Leone continues to partner with the Government of Sierra Leone in prioritizing gender equality in its development plan, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, which is aligned to the Medium-Term National Development Plan. The development of the Gender Empowerment Bill 2021 is to effect, a welcomed and timely stride towards ensuring the inclusion of women and girls in decision-making processes. The UN is fully committed to support the Bill to be passed in Parliament and for its full implementation, thereafter.

The Gender Empowerment Bill 2021 aims to address gender imbalances by making provision for elective and appointive public office positions through a minimum of 30 percent quota; to provide for the promotion of gender equality in employment and training; to provide for financial institutions to prescribe procedures for the improvement of women’s access to finance, and other related matters.

Firstly, I would like to commend the Government of Sierra Leone for the signing and approval of the Gender Empowerment Bill by the Cabinet. I would like to call on Parliament to express similar support by unanimously ratifying and enacting the Gender Empowerment Bill.

In the spirit of solidarity, I would like to encourage the HeForShe Champions to continue to work hard for the transformation of social norms and gender stereotypes that perpetuate gender inequality through advocating for the Bill to be supported by all men and women within Parliament.  Moreover, we need to increase coordination and build synergies amongst development partners, civil society and the media in planning, strategizing, and advocating for the bill to be passed in Parliament.

The outcome of this meeting will offer an important entry point to drive the Gender Empowerment Bill forward with Government, Civil Society, UN Agencies and other stakeholders to improve the socio-political status of women in Sierra Leone.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Women’s full representation and leadership are a prerequisite for making the best use of all our resources, especially as we build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic. Gender equality is a question of power. We still live in a male-dominated world with a male-dominated culture. A few women leaders are not enough. It is when we have many women in power that we transform power itself.  Let us then continue to work closely together as we emerge from the pandemic and reignite the Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.  Let us commit to partner towards a safer, fairer, more inclusive and equal world. 

I wish you productive deliberations.