Women Move Africa

Dr Nematta Majeks-Walker speaks on women's equal political participation in post conflict Sierra Leone. She explains about the formation of the 50/50 group and the more than twenty years struggle to achieve the minimum 30% representation in parliament. She highlights the failure of women's wings within  political parties, the refusal of political parties to recognize the contributions of women within the political party structure and the lack of support  for women in leadership by men. She articulates the message of the 50/50 Group to work side by side with men for a greater purpose to move Sierra Leone forward..  She enumerates the challenges facing women in politics called the triple C  and laments the difficulties of breaking the impasse. She is optimistic about the future  with the limited legal and policy changes that have occurred since the end of the war. And believes that finalization of the revised Constitution could be the light at the end of the tunnel.  She notes the competition between and among women's groups for funding, the collaboration and building of coalitions on national issues, and the expansion of  programs outside the western area of Freetown to benefit women in the provinces. Despite these challenges she is hopeful that the future is brighter with the emergence of the younger generation of women taking up the mantle.

Honourable Dr. Bernadette Lahai is uniquely placed to demonstrate how one woman can make a difference in advancing women rights in a society. Born and raised in a polygamous household in rural Sierra Leone, her experience of the behavior of men in her household and her community was her first awareness of discrimination. The vulnerability of women in her society motivated her to aspire to free herself from the discriminatory cultural  practices long before she realized that women and girls have equal rights. In this episode she recalls her path to emancipation through education from primary school to earning a PHD in agricultural science, working at various male dominated academic institutions, and how she integrated women's concerns into her work.  Her values about equality between men and women  grounded in her childhood experiences did not take away from respecting other views but she expl;ains how she would always stand her ground in what she believes in. This strong belief that women can make a difference in society is why she joined several women organizations to advocate for women's right as an activist. 

Yasmin Fofanah nee Jusu-Sheriff

 Mrs. Yasmin Fofanah nee Jusu-Sherrif is a well-known legal practitioner in Sierra Leone and a life-long women’s rights advocate. With a specialization in law and politics, Yasmin brings a unique perspective to our conversation on her experience of the civil war in Sierra Leone and the role of the Women’s Movement in bringing an end to the conflict, and in managing political tensions now.

The first part of our conversation focused on the impact of the conflict on her children and her family who live in Eastern Sierra Leone where the conflict started. She recalls how the family moved around as refugees from Sierra Leone to Guinea to Liberia and back to Sierra Leone in search of peace and stability. Her experience of the powerlessness of being internally displaced and or a refugee which strengthened her understanding of the call for protection of civilians in conflict situations. She observed how boys in conflict during those periods became child soldiers and the girls became bush wives. She observed how these suffering did not go in vain, as it helped develop some of the jurisprudence on conflict related sexual violence, the protection of child soldiers and the inclusion of women in in conflict resolution, management, peace and security.

She explains her involvement in the Sierra Leone Women’s Movement, especially as part of the Manor River Union Peace Network. Her account of the role of the women’s movement in the Sierra Leone peace process and the sub-regional peace efforts and engagements are fascinating.

The Second part of Dr. Nana Pratt's conversation with me focuses on the evolution of the Sierra Leone Women Movement as she recalls it

She starts her narrative with her attendance at a workshop on Women Organizing for Change as perhaps when the idea for organizing as a collective first started for her.

She explains that women had been organising to address tensions during elections in the seventies and eighties and identifies key organizations like The YWCA in which women were active as educationalists.

Dr. Pratt describes the structures of the organizations and groups as well as some of the women in leadership.  The main tool of operations by the women's groups was advocacy with the authorities and the international community to change public policy and action. The description and dynamics between and among the Women's groups is fascinating and explains why women were such good influencers of decisions by successive Governments before, during and after the conflict in Sierra Leone. She concludes part two with how rebels started to target activist women, leading her to flee Sierra Leone in a dangerous barge and travelled to the Gambia and what that journey was like.

Dr. Pratt is a life long women's right activist in Sierra Leone. In our conversation last Christmas she introduces herself by sharing her perspectives on her early years growing up in Sierra Leone and  Nigeria and how those years shaped her life. In particular, her awareness  about rights , women organizing, her experience of the civil war in Sierra Leone and subsequently becoming a refugee in the Gambia . 
The emphasis of the first of the three parts of this episode,  she explains how she learned to care and share at home as part of what she later understood to be rights and responsibilities. She goes on to explain  her early years associating with  women in women's groups organizing for change in Sierra Leone. In that context she learned how to support and serve other women.  Her story gives an insight into the history of the women's movement in Sierra Leone and perhaps why it was so influential during the war years. This first part concludes, on how she joined the Sierra Leone University Women's Organization and started to attend training workshops on women's issues abroad thus enhancing her knowledge and skill on how women can organize for change.  Her fascinating account and use of language will make you laugh. Enjoy listening.

Part 2 of the second episode of the podcast about the host is in the context of the civil war in Sierra Leone.  Isha Dyfan  gives her perspective about the civil war , the role of the women's movement in bringing about the end of the war. She narrates her own journey upon leaving Sierra Leone during the war and how her life changed as she continued to advocate for peace  in Sierra Leone at international fora. She explains how she transitioned into a new career in Gender and Human Rights working for international NGOs and subsequently with the United Nations . Retired and now an Independent Expert on the situation of Human Rights in Somalia, she reflects on  her life's journey and wants to share her experiences with other women especially young women, in the hope of inspiring their contributions to society in their own little way. In short, the episode provides some justification for starting this podcast on this topic.

This first episode introduces the host Isha Dyfan to her audience. it gives a brief description of her school and university days in Sierra Leone and in England with very interesting and sometimes funny anecdotes of her life as a student. It  provides insights into her early professional career as a legal practitioner in Freetown in the late 1980s early 1990s that gives pointers to her later work as a women's right activist and professional. The Episode also hints at the impending crisis in Sierra Leone that resulted in a ten year civil war and the emergence of a vibrant women's movement dedicated to peace and women's political participation.