Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Community Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has urged women is West to take advantage of gender laws in their respective states to fill their quota in elective and appointive positions to contribute to the good governance of the region.

This is even as the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Sidie Mohammed Tunis called on women and youths in Sierra Leone to come out en masse to participate in the country’s general elections scheduled for June 2023.

Hon. Tunis gave this task    in Freetown, while declaring open gender advocacy talk shop organized by ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA), with the theme, “A Sensitization Campaign on Proportional Representation of Women in Politics: Scaling up Political Partnership between Men and Women”.

The talk shop the speaker added is also aimed at unleashing the potential of women and youth in politics and entrepreneurship.

He said: “The ECOWAS Parliament believes strongly that scaling up political partnership between men and women in politics is a step in the right

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direction. Partnerships between the duo is a matter of equity and human rights, which are cornerstones of a democratic society. The equal presence of women leadership and perspectives in decision making is essential to ensure greater responsiveness to citizens’ needs. I am certain that as the country goes to elections come June 2023, women and youths in Sierra Leone will be actively involved, not just in campaigning for the candidates of their choice but vying for elective positions to fill gaps as provided for by the new law”.

He noted that the ECOFEPA Platform has given the Parliament a rare opportunity to directly interact with the citizens of the Sub-region and transfer the subtle art of real-life politics and skills that cannot be acquired through the books.

“The collective interest of the people we represent is paramount as we look up to Almighty God for wisdom and strength to proffer solutions to the age long problems confronting our citizens. Leaders across every sphere have the moral obligation to share the success formulas in politics and entrepreneurship with the next generation of decision makers,” he said.

The representative of the European Union, Mr Manuel Müller, emphasised the need for participation of women in decision making so as to achieve gender equality and full human rights potential.

He added that gender equality is a fundamental human right.

He concluded that the place reserved for women in a society tells much about the level of democracy and development of that specific country.