The Fifty Most Influential Sierra Leonean Women Awards Committee has condemned the alleged intimidation of First Lady Fatima Maada Bio by some Members of Parliament during the State Opening of Parliament.
In a statement issued in Freetown, the committee, through the Kids Advocacy Network, said the behaviour of certain MPs was “disrespectful to the office of the First Lady” and undermined the dignity of women in public life.
The group said Parliament has a duty to make laws that protect and empower women, not create an environment where they are “belittled, harassed, or intimidated”.
They called on the Speaker of Parliament to publicly apologise to the First Lady and to launch an investigation into the incident.
“The democratic progress of Sierra Leone depends on a culture of respect, inclusion, and protection for women’s participation in governance,” the statement read.
The organisation urged all MPs to uphold high standards of conduct and lead by example in promoting the rights and dignity of women in the country.
