WIFEE Demands Fair Share in Sub-National Revenues
By Mohamed Konneh
The Women’s Initiative Forum for Empowerment in Extractive (WIFEE) in collaboration with the Social Environment Entrepreneurs (SEE) support women’s in Emperi Chiefdom Bonthe District (especially Higema and Kpetema Communities) to demand fair share from all Sub-National revenues and development Initiative in their communities.
Gender equality, women’s empowerment, justice, dignity, inclusion and active participation in the decision-making chain are essential objectives for the achievement of the legitimate aspirations of women in Imperi Chiefdom – Bonthe District.
This accordingly is to achieve a better life and to promote societal cooperation and peaceful-existence there is the need to take in to consideration the virtues of women’s historical tradition, vulnerability and critical roles they play in the family and community.
According to statement from the two groups, Higema and Kpetema are vulnerable communities suffering from dust pollution and water contamination caused by Sierra Rutile’s Limited operations as alleged by both communities.
Besides, over the managements of Sub-National Revenues: Community Development Fund-CDF, Agricultural Development Fund-ADF, etc. women are not place in decision-making position to protect their interest.
They are ignored, exposed to sexual harassment and treated abysmally irrespective of their relevance in the family and society. And that poverty is conspicuously felt in these communities. Women are suffering and they are most vulnerable to meet their daily survival.
To this end, women in mining affected communities rely on the provisions set out in Part Three (3) of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act 2022, to make the following demands:
That the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone is expected to ensure the protection and promotion of the fundamental rights and liberty of vulnerable women within the mining community.
Also a collaborative effort is needed between the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRC-SL) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to urgently respond to the environmental hazards (i.e., dust pollution, water contamination, uncovered ponds, and deprivation of farm lands for subsistent farming) affecting women, the most vulnerable in the community.
That the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resource (MMMR), the National Minerals Agency (NMA), District Authorities and Traditional Leaders must ensure to include women to occupy at least 20% positions in all mining related Community Development Structures/Initiatives in the community.
That the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resource (MMMR), the National Minerals Agency (NMA), the Natural Resource Governance and Economic Justice – Sierra Leone (NaRGEJ-SL), Rutile Community Development Committee (Rutile CDC), Local Authorities and all relevant stakeholders must ensure at least 20% of the annual remittances of funds to the Community Development Fund (CDF) and Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) must be ring fenced for women’s empowerment programmes in the community.
That Sierra Rutile Mining Limited and other investments within the community should employ at least 20% women of their total workforce.
That capacity building/training programmes such as Soap Making, Bread Making, Gara Tie Dying, Farming, Petty Trading, among others, should be facilitated to improve women’s skills to meet their survival.
That financial support should be given to volunteer teachers in the Primary Schools in the community.
That a standard medical structures with adequate facilities are needed to meet women’s maternal needs and to heal other diseases.
That sensitization on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights 2011, the Mines and Minerals Development Act 2022, and the Gender Equality and Women’s’ Empowerment Act 2022 are needed to improve women’s understanding on the minerals sector in line with their rights to self-determination.
That training on the Three (3) Gender Acts of 2007: the Domestic Violence Act – the Devolution of Estate Act – and the Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act, are needed for women to know their rights, liberty and protection from all forms of abuses and violation of their dignity.
That capacity on the African (Banjul) Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights 1981, the Sexual Offences Act 2012 and its Amendment 2019 are needed for women to know their rights to freely determine the use of their bodies and to appreciate the various categories of sexual offences that covers persons with mental disabilities, children and married women, and the punishment attached for perpetrators.
That a collaborative supports from the Sierra Leone Police, Local Authorities, Ministry of Children’s Affairs and the Justice Sector are needed to prevent sexual harassment, sexual penetration and rape within the community.
About WIFEE
Women’s Iinitiative Fforum for Eempowerment in Eextractive (WIFEE) is a Community Base Organization engages in advocacy and capacity building of women and girls with the desire and commitment to promote the rights, dignity, liberty and self-determination of women living in mining affected communities in Sierra Leone.
