Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL) together with Actalliance Wednesday officially launched the Gender Justice programme – a new project that aims to promote gender transformative approach in Sierra Leone through positive masculinity.
Giving a brief overview at the CCSL Hall in Freetown, CCSL Project Manager, the Rev. Moses Kanu explained that the project will train male ambassadors in different parts of the country in “skills and knowledge necessary in preventing and ending violence against women and girls at all levels”. He said a manual is being put together that has six pertinent topics with scriptural references from the bible and Quran that will be used in transforming the mindset of men.
The Sexual Gender-Based Violence Adviser from the office of Sierra Leone Vice President, Madam Battu Jambawai applauded faith-based organizations for taking up such a project, which she called a step in the right direction. This was because organizations around the world and even Sierra Leone have developed many policy frameworks that speak to women’s rights, SGBV, gender discrimination, gender mainstreaming among others, she said. She admonished elderly men to be role models in changing the attitudes and mindsets of younger men to respect and uphold women’s rights and prevent gender-based violence drawing reference from the bible story in John 8 where Jesus advocated for the adulteress woman.
She said ensuring recognition of gender equality, making meaningful resources available, taking affirmative action, creating opportunities for women empowerment and supporting policy initiatives that protect women as entailed in the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment policy that was recently approved by parliament must be included in the project implementation.
The General Secretary of CCSL Mrs. Keziah Kargbo pointed out that societal and cultural norms were factor that make people believe that gender inequalities were normal. “ But this is the time for us to speak up loud as religious bodies and take action,” she said. Therefore, Actalliance through gender justice is advocating for men to come on board to work with women to address the structural inequalities and ensure that true gender approaches and actions are taken., she emphasized. She said as faith actors, Actalliance is raising the prophetic and collective voice in denouncing exploitative systems that deny people from living a dignified life especially women and girls.
The General Secretary said religious leaders have an ethical obligation and critical work in discerning the dangerous connection between religion and culture that relate to women and the private space where violence most frequently occur. Kargbo was positive that if all concerned worked together and strengthened partnerships at all levels in addressing the root causes, there would be solutions to issues for the future of women and girls in the communities.
Jenevieve Tity from the Sierra Leone Police’s Family Support Unit (FSU) stated that the FSU has a fundamental duty to investigate and prosecute gender -based violence and related offenses. Hence, the FSU was in full support of the gender justice programme and would give their contribution to uphold the principles in protecting children, women, men against all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation in accordance with the laws of Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone Actalliance Forum (SLAF) was born for a coordinated disaster or emergency response, peace resolution and gender equality work in Sierra Leone. The SLAF comprises national and international faith-based organizations which includes the CCSL, Christian Aid, and others.
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