The 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone is commemorating 25 years of promoting women's leadership and political representation with a series of national events. Established in 2001, the organization has been instrumental in increasing women's participation in public life and decision-making processes. The anniversary celebrations, themed "Still I Rise," will feature a public lecture, the launch of accredited leadership courses, and a community gathering. These events aim to highlight the organization's contributions to gender equality and women's empowerment.
The 50/50 Group was founded on November 30, 2001, with a mock parliament event at the House of Parliament in Freetown. The event featured a female head of state and a simulated state opening of Parliament, drawing attention to the limited representation of women in national decision-making. At the time, women occupied only 8% of parliamentary seats, despite representing approximately half of the population. The late President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah formally launched the Group during the event.
The organization's founder and Global President, Dr. Nemata Majeks-Walker, reflected on the organization's beginnings, citing training conducted by British gender and politics expert Lesley Abdela as an inspiration for the establishment of the movement. Abdela had previously founded the United Kingdom's All Party 300 Group to campaign for greater female participation in politics. Majeks-Walker credited collective advocacy by women's organizations for the passage of the Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Act of 2022.
The Group's current President, Professor Fredline M'Cormack-Hale, described the anniversary as an opportunity to recognize the contributions of previous generations while preparing younger women to assume leadership positions. She emphasized that 25 years is a milestone, not a finish line, and that the organization will continue to push for equal representation. The Group has trained over 3,000 women through election preparedness and leadership programs and established branches across Sierra Leone's 16 districts.
The 50/50 Group has worked with national and international partners, including the European Union, Irish Aid, Oxfam, and the African Women's Development Fund. Its advocacy efforts contributed to the development of the Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Act, while its election-related programs provided women candidates with nonpartisan training and media visibility. In the 2023 general elections, women won 41 of the 135 elected parliamentary seats.
The organization has expanded its work beyond electoral politics to include women's land rights, climate action, peacebuilding, and financial inclusion. It has also trained secondary school girls in leadership and civic participation, with school clubs established in seven secondary schools. The celebrations will begin with a media launch, followed by a week of media engagements highlighting the organization's history and future priorities.
The 14th Rajiv Bendre Women in Public Life Lecture will take place on November 20, featuring a keynote address by Professor Miriam Conteh-Morgan, the first vice chancellor of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Sierra Leone. The lecture will also mark the formal launch of accredited courses at the Group's Gender Equality and Women's Leadership Training Institute, offering formal programs leading to certificates and diplomas.
Key points
- The 50/50 Group has helped increase women's representation in Sierra Leone's Parliament from 8% to over 30%.
- The organization has trained over 3,000 women through election preparedness and leadership programs.
- The Group's advocacy efforts contributed to the passage of the Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Act of 2022.
