the RegimanuelGray Estate, UN Women UNDP and the Icelandic government geared towards the launching of gender mainstreaming in local council projects. This event brought together two significant ministries (Local government and the Ministry Of Gender and Children's Affairs) to give meaningful impacts and contributions towards the launch.
The event aim on important of initiatives and suggestive ways of Gender equality and the rights of Women together with women empowerment initiatives and programs to strengthen capacity building for women.
The program was chaired byBaindu Massaquoi, a representative from UN Women who emphasized on the importance of the program and its significance of women empowerment.
The UN Resident Coordinator Mrs wakana gave the opening remarks of the event as she commended UN collaboration with the government of Sierra Leone for their continuous unwavering support to foster development initiative programs for women in the country.
In her remarks, she said that the launched is a significant demonstration and a step in addressing concerns of women by reaffirming the systematic commitment of UN agencies in their endeavour to strengthen women's advocacy and capacity building in Sierra Leone. "We are committed to bring more initiative programs to involve women in decision making roles" she stressed. Mrs. Wakana also provided a statistical framework about women who are challenged in decision making roles and marginalization as she echoed their inclusivity in all sectors.
Wakana highlighted the success stories on GBV, and the establishment of a gender response unit with a training initiative program conducted for 60,000 officials at district levels. She reiterated about the achievement towards ending GBV.
The Minister of social welfare Hon. Melrose Karminty shared her Ministry's vision towards gender equality. Melrose cited the roles and responsibilities of social welfare towards women issues. In her remarks, she reiterated her ministry's commitment towards promoting human rights, creating opportunities for social marginalized groups, and protecting the interest of the grassroots. She emphasized that, her ministry is keen to strengthen capacity building initiatives to government officials and at grassroots levels such as creating social welfare programs, and give access to health, education, and empowerment.
"We will ensure that we streamline these projects" she affirmed. The minister concluded her presentation by calling on the ministry of Health to collaborate with this projects which will foster development in diverse areas.
Karminty reassured economic empowerment programs to social marginalized groups and those challenged with disabilities "We want to amplify the voices of women to reach their potentials". She noted. Reaffirming their collaboration with UN partners and to support their initiatives programs which will enhanced systematic developments for vulnerable women. She encouraged all to gear towards gender inclusivity and technical support to women.
The Assistant Director from the Ministry Of Gender and Children's Affairs Mr. Bamie J. Sesay gave an overview of gender mainstreaming and its importance towards gender inclusivity. He stressed on gender equality as a significant step undertaken by the ministry to address such concerns in which the ministry has committed to advance equality and the landmark of the GEWE Act.
The Icelandic representative calls for development corporations to strengthen gender equality, participation, gender justice and the inclusivity of women in decision making roles. She stressed on women taking leadership roles as they have witnessed leadership undertaken by women in the world. She reaffirmed the Icelandic commitment to end gender inequality and establish development schemes in local government ministry who are the immediate response institution to grassroots. She thanked the government of Sierra Leone for enacting the GEWE customary law for women's advocacy and empowerment policies. She ended by applauding the Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs, ministry of local government, and other institutions for commemorating the launch.
The deputy minister for local government who was the keynote speaker, thanked all official representatives and government officials who witnessed the launching ceremony. He communicated about consolidating and promoting government and their parents' initiatives as it will enhance mutual collaboration for development corporations. He said, that the government will continue to strengthen the adversaries of marginalized social groups and integrate them to the capacity building projects. He indicated that the launching of the gender mainstreaming programs is a tremendous transformation for women's advocacy and capacity building in all sectors, "This landmark development is a benchmark towards development in our country". He noted.
Key figures were in attendance such as the Minister of Social welfare, Deputy Minister of Local government, representatives from UN women, UNDP, Republic of Iceland, Assistant Director Bamie Sesay from the Ministry Of Gender and Children's Affairs, representatives from CSO, the UN Resident Coordinator Mrs. Wakana
Kelvin Mark Kargbo
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