Additional information about gender quotas
Sierra Leone
The Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act (GEWE) of 2021 was passed by Parliament on November 15, 2022. On January 19, 2023, President Julius Maada Bio signed the act of parliament into law. The act establishes a legal requirement for all designated private and public bodies in Sierra Leone to ensure at least 30% female representation of their workforce. The act also specifies a 30% minimum quota for women’s participation and representation in government, for both appointed positions, including cabinet, ministry, ambassadorship roles and elected positions, such as parliamentary.
Following recent elections in 2023, women lawmakers now account for 28% of the elected seats in the Sierra Leone Parliament, up from 14.5% in the previous election. The surge in women MPs is largely thanks to the Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Act (IPU).
