Women, Politics and Decision-Making in Sierra Leone

The political and decision-making systems and processes of Sierra Leone are fraught with grave gender inequalities that disadvantage women. While women have not been formally barred from standing for political office or even partaking in decision-making in the history of the nation, systemic and structural factors and forces continue to restrict women’s access resulting in wide gaps in the participation of women and men. This paper examines such systemic and structural factors with an emphasis on the socio-cultural forces and factors that limit women’s political participation. The analysis is informed by the equality strategy and quota movement, which have been posited in gender analysis as fundamental to democratic development. The analysis shows that although women have historically played key political roles in national development they continue to be marginalized in formal politics and decision-making processes. Drawing from various quota and equality strategies from Africa and beyond, it argues that Sierra Leone in its post-conflict reconstruction should be guided by such positive examples. It notes that the continued marginalizations of women constitute an infringement on their human rights and contravene various conventions such as the CEDAW. Hence, recommendations are made for the elimination of moribund cultural practices that limit women’s access and the institution of policies and practices that actively promote women’s right and gender equality.Key Descriptors: Women’s Empowerment, Socio-cultural Factors, Politics Participation, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Gender Equalit