The world’s five times best female footballer of the year, Marta Vieira Da Silva, paid a two-day visit to Sierra Leone in August as part of efforts to raise awareness about the need to increase female representation in Sierra Leone’s governance structures.
Marta (2nd left) together with Civil Society Activists working on Gender issues, photo courtesy advocaidsl.com
While in Sierra Leone, Marta met with university students, female football players and civil society organizations that are working on women’s political empowerment and gender equality. The meetings were meant to acquaint the super star on the status
of women in Sierra Leone with regards to political participation and social and economic empowerment, and their determination to change the status quo. Marta used the opportunity to share the experiences and challenges she encountered in her football career, and how she persevered to overcome those challenges. The Centre for Accountability and the Rule of Law (CARL) strongly believes that Marta’s visit will help inspire Sierra Leonean women in their attempts to push for more female representation in decision making positions in the country. This article focuses on the ongoing efforts to enact the Affirmative Action bill, and the likely impact of the football star’s visit on the project. Following President Koroma’s March 2011 public declaration to support women’s advocacy for increased female representation in governance, Sierra Leonean women have been working relentlessly to ensure that an Affirmative Action bill that provides a mandatory 30 percent female representation in governance is passed.
Women constitute a significant percentage of the country’s population, which is why the proposed legislation seeks to address the unfair, uneven power relations between men and women. At a meeting with women’s groups advocating for a 30 percent quota representation for women in all decision making bodies, female parliamentarian Hon. Bernadette Lahai said there are only 13 percent of women in parliament. She expressed hope, though, that with the support of all women from across the country from all walks of life, the aim of achieving a minimum 30 percent female representation in decision making bodies will be realized.
Marta Vieira Da Silva, photo courtesy un.org
While speaking at the event, Marta commended women’s groups for their level of commitment exhibited by the women and trusts that women’s empowerment is essential for peace and development. Women in Sierra Leone lag behind in terms of development, despite their increasing participation in the political process mainly as voters. The political process itself tends to limit women’s participation by reducing them to campaigners, cooks, voters and dancers with little consideration for their voices, values, experiences and demands. In recent years, several efforts have been made to address some of the injustices women are exposed to; For example, in 2007, the government enacted three gender-related laws in parliament: Domestic Violence, Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce, and Devolution of Estate[1], in order to improve the status and protection of women. Notwithstanding this, women continue to suffer abuses and discrimination. Women still face beatings and rape in the hands of men.
The establishment of Registration Centres to register cases of marriage and divorce has not been done, even though it is a provision of the Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act. Women still find it difficult to inherit property from their deceased husband or father as there are still challenges relating to implementation of the Matrimonial Causes Act[2] that regulates divorces and marriages and the passing into law of the Sexual Offences Bill[3] that will consolidate with amendments the law on sexual offences. The full implementation of international conventions and instruments that seek to enhance the rights of women such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Conference held in China in 1995 will be a step in the right direction to uphold women political and legal rights.
It is about time Sierra Leonean women came forward and speak openly. For better protection and promotion of their rights, particularly those relating to participation in governance. Marta symbolizes how difficulties confronting Sierra Leonean women can be overcome. Playing football as a young girl from a poor background, with lot of critics saying football is not for women but for men, to becoming the world’s number one female player is no mean feat and requires a lot of courage and commitment. CARL expects Sierra Leonean women to demonstrate the kind of courage portrayed by the international icon and continue to be steadfast in their move to advocate for political transformation for the female folk. Enhancing women’s participation in formal and informal decision-making is essential for political participation.
Born in February 1986 in Dois Riachos Alagoas, Marta hails from one of the poorest towns in Brazil. She developed an interest in playing football at an early age and her brilliant football techniques are compared to that of Pele, a renowned world football player which earns her the nick name “Pele with Skirts” and the title she holds today. As a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, we look forward to a positive impact her visit will make to improve the status of women in this country.
[1] The three Gender Acts 2007
[2] Matrimonial causes Act 2005
[3] The Sexual Offence Bill 2004
Last Updated on Thursday, 06 October 2011 09:22
