Source: Concord Times 
The Chairperson of the National Commission for Democracy NCD has called on women to activelyparticipate in the politics of the country.

Speaking at the launch of24hr Campaign School for Female Aspirants for 2012 Elections by United NationsWomen yesterday at the Bank of Sierra Leone Complex in Freetown, Dr. AbubakarrKargbo stated that the participation of women in politics will help promotegender equality.

 

"Women lack the requiredknowledge to participate in politics and fight against violence. We are readyto empower them to participate fully in the country's politics because theirrole is crucial. Women have a vital role to play in decision making," he andurged women intending to go into politics to work closely with their male folksin order to help develop the country while calling on the government to givethem the 30% quota they have been agitating for.

 

Deputy Minister of SocialWelfare, Gender and Children's Affairs, Rosaline Oya-Sankoh, stated that herministry is working assiduously to ensure that women participate in thedecision-making process of the government.

 

"For quite a long time now,women have been behind and not showing up in politics. We will ensure thatwomen are given the 30% quota in order to push the issue of gender forward,"she said.

 

Delivering her keynoteaddress, UN Women Regional Director, Dr. Josephine Odere, advised women whointend to contest in the forthcoming elections to know that they will berepresenting their people if they win the elections.

 

"It is about time we havemore women in politics and push gender issues forward in Sierra Leone. I wantto see 30% of women in parliament," she noted.

 

 

• Sierra Leone