By Ada Adams Sesay
The Minister of Gender and Children Affairs, Madam Manty Tarawali has on Thursday 17th November 2022, updated the press on the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act, 2022.
Madam Tarawali said that Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act, 2022 is a manifesto commitment of the ruling SLPP government which His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has fulfilled.
She added that, the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act, seeks to address the gender disparity in the country. She continued by stating that, it will also increase the appointment of women in key government positions of the country and also to achieve at least 30% representation in parliament. She said the gender inequality in desk is the mystery that shows the loss in potential of Human Capital Development, due to the disparity between female and male in the workplace.
She continued, in 2018 only 17 women out of 146 parliamentarians were elected to serve in parliament. She went on to say that local representation decreased from 19% in 2012 to 17 % in 2018. She added that, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio is committed in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the country. She continued by stating that, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio is committed in protecting women and provide employment opportunities to them.
She is optimistic that the act would create over five thousand jobs for women and it also provides checks and balances for women. She continued by stating that, the act prohibits sexual arrestment against women, adding that, the act also prohibits dismissed of women from the workplace due to pregnancy.
