WOMEN, PEACE AND JUSTICE

President Johnson Sirleaf (Middle) and Mrs Yasmin Fofana (Right)

The recent presidential victory of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf over honourable John Opon Weah has further reawakened and empowered women worldwide, especially African Women. The Mano River Women’s Group that travelled to Liberia recently to witness and grace the inauguration ceremony of Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirlaef is a clear demonstration of this feat.

On the women’s network visit to Liberia, the First Vice President of Mano River Women’s Peace Network (MARWOPNET), Mrs Yasmin Fofana disclosed to me in an exclusive interview that MARWOPNET’s mission to Liberia was to advocate for and promote, at all levels, the involvement of women in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts in the Mano River sub-region, Africa and the world at large.

She added that their organisation serves as catalyst through which sustainable peace, human security and justice can be attained by implementing gender responsive policies and building the human resource capacity of women and girls for rapid socio-economic and political development.

On the significance of MARWOPNET’s trip to Liberia to witness the inauguration of President Sirleaf , Yasmin Jusu Sheriff (now Mrs. Yasmin Fofana) explained that, the election of female President in Liberia is a clear indication that lasting peace has finally returned to the Mano River sub-region. The trip itself was designed to exhibit support for the first female Presidency in Africa. The presence of MARWOPNET’s delegation at the inauguration ceremony created the required impact, with regards to among other issues, the organisation’s support for the empowerment of African women.

Mrs Yasmin Fofana pledged MARWOPNET’s unwavering support for President Sirleaf and to the cause of African women. She described President Sirlaef as an icon and that her election and subsequent swearing into office is sure to encourage the participation of women in politics and development.

Mrs Fofana disclosed that women were mobilised from refugee camps to promote and enhance the trip to Liberia. Dilating on the delegation’s experience during the trip, she revealed that they travelled by road network between Sierra Leone and Liberia. She told me that the road network from Sierra Leone to Liberia was deplorable and of immense concern.  She reiterated that, whilst travelling by road to Liberia, the delegation was confronted by large crowds of people waiting to welcome them at the border. She further said that, among the distinguish personalities that assembled at the border to welcome MARWOPNET’s delegation, was the former Head of State of Liberia , Gudy Bryant and a handicapped woman named Ruth Sandoh Perry.

On her forecast about the future of the Liberian female Presidency, Mrs. Fofana pointed out that, as the only democratically elected African female head of state, she is optimistic about a sound future for women. Mrs Fofana informed me that, now that President Sirleaf has broken the ceiling glass and elected in office , there is the urgent need for women, the world over , to come together and have their relentless support. MARWOPNET is firmly convinced that the success of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf  has a ripple-effect on womanhood worldwide.

Mrs Fofana raised the issue of justice, rule of law and MARWOPNET’s role in promoting the ideal. She stated that at the moment, women are involved in all spheres of decision-making process and that fifty two (52%) of the electorates are women. She lamented that the major concern of MARWOPNET is the low proportion of educated women but confident that the situation would soon improve. She observed that President Sirleaf is a role model and strong force to reckon with, not only in the African continent, but globally and that her election would serve as a motivating factor for parents to send their girl child to school. She expressed her admiration of seeing crowds of people yearning to have the picture of President Sirleaf during the inauguration ceremony. She reported that, many organistions during the inauguration ceremony, had campaign banners urging parents to send their girl child to school.

She forwarded that MARWONET will work untiringly to consolidate peace and embark on aggressive socio-economic and political challenges to uplift the standard of women. She stress that, as Sierra Leone moves closer to the presidential and parliamentary elections of next year , the country needs a motherly government that empowers people in all spheres of national development. She told me of the need for Sierra Leone to have the leader that can build the capacity of the people in order to be self-reliant.

Mrs Fofana’s message from President Sirleaf was that, Sierra Leoneans must be committed in ensuring that sustainable peace prevails in the country and that the collective efforts of all, including civil society, must be involved in consolidating and maintaining the peace process, as this is one of the ingredients in attracting investment in the Mano River Union, a regional integration within West Africa.

About Mrs Fofana’s conclusive statement, she summarised that, there is the burning desire to concertedly encourage sustainable peace and development across the sub-region in particular and Africa in general for the benefit and welfare of the people, and this can be achieved through motherly governance.


AUTHOR:

PRINCE FODAY, HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTER