Case Study: Women and politics in Sierra Leone
Abstract
Despite the engagement of Sierra Leonean women in the peace process, and efforts to increase women's participation in public life, they face difficulties today in entering parliamentary politics. Since the end of the country鈥檚 brutal civil war in 2002, Sierra Leone has had two national and two local elections, with preparations for a third round of national and local elections underway in 2012. Despite some positive changes, especially at the local level, women continue to be underrepresented in Sierra Leone鈥檚 political institutions. Sierra Leonean women have a distinguished history of involvement in pre-independence politics. Unfortunately, the country鈥檚 chequered political history of coups and counter-coups and one-party authoritarianism in the post-independence era, put an end to women鈥檚 political activism. Despite their lack of involvement in politics prior to the civil war, women and women鈥檚 organisations have played a vital role in promoting peace and leading high profile campaigns to increase women鈥檚 representation in public life. Yet still Sierra Leonean women are poorly represented in parliament and local governance.
Citation
Anon. Case Study: Women and politics in Sierra Leone. Pathways for Women鈥檚 Empowerment RPC, Brighton, UK (2011) 2 pp.
Links