A high-powered delegation from the Sierra Leonean Parliament recently visited Liberia as guests of the Centre for Security Studies and Development (CENSSAD) to explore the possibility of setting up a Mano River Union Women Parliamentarian Network.
The delegation included Hon Adama Bangura, Hon. Emeia Tongi, Hon Princess Daramy, Hon. Rebecca Yei Kamara, Hon Keikura Vandy and Hon. Simeon Johnny. The visit of the delegation is a direct result of a sub-regional webinar on Women’s participation, which was convened on June 3, 223 by CENSSAD and brought together women leaders from Liberia Guinea and Sierra Leone. The webinar provided the platform for participants to explore issues relating to violence against women in politics and also examine barriers to women ‘participation in politics.
Whilst in Liberia, the delegation met with Former Liberia President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Speaker of the House of Representative, Hon. Bofal Chambers, a representative of the Female Legislative Caucus of Liberia, Hon. Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis, the Ambassador of Sweden to Liberia and Sierra Leone, the Deputy Country Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Country Representative of UN Women, Mrs. Comfort Lamptey. The highlight of their visit was a Political Leadership Experience Sharing Engagement held with female representative candidates from Liberia. The event, which was organized by CENSSAD and Sister Aid Liberia, with support from UN Women, provided the platform for the delegation from Sierra Leone to share their experience with representative candidates and the successful story relating to increased participation of women in politics in Sierra Leone. From just 18 Women Members of Parliament in 2018, the number grew to 41 during the 2023 election.
The MPs from Sierra Leone outlined the strategies they adopted to ensure that more Sierra Leonean women got elected to Parliament and called for a firm commitment from female candidates to the electoral process in Liberia, if they are to succeed. Whilst in Liberia, the delegation also lectured at a conference for First Time Voter organized by the Young Women Actions for Rights. Peace and Development
The visit to Liberia was supported by the Secretary General of the Mano River Union, Ambassador Maria G. Harrison.