Girls and women face discrimination at all stages during their lives, and this is one of the key development challenges facing Sierra Leone. Maternal and child mortality rates are unacceptably high, literacy rates are lower among women, and fewer girls than boys are enrolled in school.

Women lag behind men in terms of ownership of and access to land, which in turn affects their economic status. Women face particular obstacles in accessing justice and there is a high level of sexual and gender-based violence in Sierra Leone.

Promoting gender equity

There has been progress in recent years with many new laws aimed at promoting the advancement and protection of women. ENCISS is focused on overcoming the social structures that result in inequities between men and women, as well as the full implementation and development of gender positive policies and laws.

Examples of ENCISS gender equity priorities in include the following:

• Increasing women’s participation in decision making and political representation
• Tackling the issue of trafficking
• Promoting the personal power and confidence of women
• Making men more aware of gender inequality and its impact on families and society