Promoting political-party conflict resolution to empower women lawmakers in Sierra Leone
Agnes Marah (left), a local councillor whose district is home to more than 45,000 residents in Freetown’s Western Urban district, discusses local issues with constituents. Marah, known locally as the ‘Iron Lady’, is part of an International IDEA–backed initiative, along with a gender rights group that has trained hundreds of elected women on issues from campaigning on social media to writing grant applications. Credit: International IDEA/Alistair Scrutton
The project has included promoting political-party conflict resolution as well as empowering women lawmakers and pushing plans to monitor over 200 radio stations and 12 TV stations for inflammatory speech.
Sierra Leone has held five elections since its 11- year civil war ended in 2002. The fact that the latest election was widely seen as the least violent is a testament to the work of International IDEA and its partners in fostering governance and civil discourse among parties, election officials and voters.
‘International IDEA’s involvement was a turning point for us; it has injected life into the commission and catapulted us in terms of visibility.’
| Funding | European Union |
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