Topic: 2024-Gender Equality in Rural Areas
Country: Sierra Leone
Delegate Name: Priya Mahabir
Sierra Leone is one of the lowest ranked on gender equality indices. Even though Sierra Leone has increased the awareness of inequality and the government has started to make acts and laws to make women equal; there’s still so much work that Sierra Leone needs to do to officially make women equal to men. Women don’t really play a part in the government, so incorporating them will give another point of view. Making education more accessible to women no matter their age. Early marriage/ child marriage is trying to get banned considering that it ruins the kids’ life on top of it’s a form of sexual abuse. In the past, women had little to no freedom: discrimination, violated human rights, abuse, very limited opportunities, and little to no education. Women had to face an incredible amount of inequality including basic health. Women’s lives were impacted tremendously because they could barely live as basic human beings. As of now around 29.5% of women are still unequal today.
The Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE) Act of 2022 promoted a minimum of 30% of women to equal access to education and the power of decision-making. This act was to help women; with equal pay, maternity leave, and addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. They wanted to help women even outside of Sierra Leone to have the same opportunities and develop more acts and organizations to include women in government and economic decisions. Using their many acts they gave women a basic necessity of health care; most of these acts are used to protect and provide stability and equality in the rural areas.
Sierra Leone wants to incorporate women and start treating them like actual human beings. Expanding education so women can finally go to school. Making acts to give women healthcare rights and freedom. Allowing women to be a part of government and our economic decisions. Including women in the communities and congregating with them. Letting women have a free mind. Starting more campaigns to combat gender violence and promoting awareness. The only way our country will get better is if we help people who are being the most hurt, it might not help the poverty situation, but it will help half of our community not feel threatened while trying to live.
