Rt. Hon. Speaker of the Sixth Parliament of Sierra Leone, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, has showcased Sierra Leone’s unwavering commitment and effort in protecting the girl child. The country recently signed the ‘Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024’, a landmark legislation that makes it illegal to marry children under the age of 18, thereby significantly advancing the country’s efforts to protect the rights of children and promote gender equality.

While making his speech at a Dinner organized for Sierra Leone’s Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly, Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas first intimated that Child Marriage is globally recognized as a harmful practice that disempowers women and girls and hinders gender equality. He continued that girls who are married as children are more likely to drop out of school and suffer domestic violence and other pregnancy complications. He added that the practice had existed for generations due to traditions and funny patriarchal practices.

The Parliament Sp
eaker, therefore, stated that their gathering at the dining event was an effort to continue the conversation relating to what he described as a ‘grimed subject.’ He acknowledged that Sierra Leone as a nation has had its share of struggles and misfortunes but expressed that they are resilient people, adding that they have always emerged very strong and determined.

‘As I stand before you this evening, I wish to state that the Parliament of the Republic of Sierra Leone had a collective conscience in passing this bill into an act. We have identified the missing links generally as Sierra Leoneans and have always come together to address problems affecting us as a nation.

Sierra Leone, as a nation, had identified child marriage as a harmful practice. Still, our problem was leadership, and we needed the leadership that could have championed this change. And it would interest you to know that such leadership was provided by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and His beautiful wife, the Fir
st Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone. Her role in championing this change is not just commendable, it is inspiring and gives us hope for a better future for our children”, said Speaker Thomas.

*PARLIAMENT LAUNCHES SIGNIFICANT CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MANUALS FOR MPs AND STAFF*

In order to make Parliament productive and effective in its Parliamentary procedures, on Wednesday 25/9/2024, at Committee Room One, Parliament Building, during its usual Parliamentary Learning and Shearing series, with the support of The European Union Governance Team, launched four ( 4)Corporate Governance Manuals that will help Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff enhance their skills and knowledge on parliamentary issues.

The four manuals includes: Public Financial Management, Gender, Enhancing Parliamentary Legislative Capacity, and Corporate Governance.

While officially Launching the manuals, the Acting Deputy Clerk, Gilbert Nhabay, stated that they were prepared for the use of the four manuals for better equip in the
training of parliamentarians and parliamentary staff.

The Acting Deputy Clerk said good things have come out of the Sierra Leone Parliament and noted that the manuals would be a testament.

He expressed thanks and appreciation to the soldiers of the process, like the governance team of the EU and the Sierra Leone Center for Strategy and Parliamentary Studies, among others. He said these manuals are going to be very useful, and he wants everyone to note that they are not going to keep them under their shelves.

‘Trust me; we are going to do anything possible to ensure that these manuals are utilized because these manuals are going to be valuable to us, and we are going to be part of the implementation of these manuals in order for us to succeed,’ he said.

Also Parliament has ended a two-day training program on its strategic plan for 2021- 2025.During the mid-term reflection of the strategic plan training at Committee Room One Parliament Building, the Director of CSPS, Mohamed Jalloh, outlined the objectives
of the training. He emphasized that the training would focus on the implementation progress of the strategic plan 2021-2025 and address the significant challenges faced during the implementation.

He said the objective also outlines best practices that could be adopted in implementing phase 2 of the plan within the current Parliamentary context. The objective is also to develop actionable plans for successfully implementing the revised strategies and the key priorities and pillars for the next planning phase.

The two-day program focused on setting the stage for the strategic plan (2021-2025) progress review and reviewing the challenges and obstacles to implementing the plan.

Source: Sierra Leone News Agency