International Women's Day | March 8, 2022

 


On International Women's Day 2022, I pray every girl in Sierra Leone gets access to the quality of education I had in Freetown in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

Before economic instability and one of the longest wars, Sierra Leone had made many gains and built on infrastructures post-independence.

Today, women in Sierra Leone have a lot of freedoms on paper, yet they face some of the most daunting challenges against pervasive sexism.

Take, for example, Freetown's embattled mayor; the ousted auditor general; and beleaguered election watch activist. These three women are abused and harassed for just doing their job.

Only a few weeks ago, one political operative (and his mother!) walked into the office of a public servant and assaulted her.

No doubt about it, Sierra Leone is as unfriendly to women holding public office as ordinary women striving to make a living.

It’s still one of the worst countries to be a girl child—a place where living is a constant battle against sexual harassment, rape, and gender menace. 

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