ISO: SLE *************************************************************************** The electronic version of this document has been prepared at the Fourth World Conference on Women by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women Secretariat. *************************************************************************** AS WRITTEN SIERRA LEONE GOVERNMENT STATEMENT BY Dr. Bailah Leigh Leader of the Delegation from Sierra Leone AT THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN BEIJING, CHINA MADAM CHAIRMAN, MADAM SECRETARY-GENERAL, MR. PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA, YOUR EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. 1. It gives me great pleasure on behalf of the delegation of Sierra Leone, to extend to you our congratulations on your election to the position of Chairman, together with members of your Bureau, for the Fourth World Conference on Women and at the same time: thank the Government and Peoples of the Republic of China for their warm hospitality. 2. Madam Chairman My delegation pledges to adopt a step by step approach in discharging its obligations under the Platform for Action. We are optimistic that this Conference will reach a consensus on the bracketed areas. 3. Madam Chairman At this point I would like to highlight specific concerns of my country. Sierra Leone is a small country which over the last 10-15 years has seen its GNP shrink quite considerably, compared to general World trend. The economy, infrastructure, education. health and social services had virtually collapsed. In addition to these problems, four years ago, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) waged war on the people of Sierra Leone. This war has adversely affected every aspect of national life. Presently, innocent civilians are the target in this armed conflict. Those who are affected the most are women of all ages and children. Government is seriously concerned about this matter and in its bid to end this senseless carnage of Sierra Leoneans killing Sierra Leoneans, has offered Unconditional Peace Negotiations with the rebels. There has been no response from the rebels unfortunately, so the carnage continues. Government is however committed to Peace. 4. Over the last three years, my government has been trying to establish peace, embark on development programmes, address the issues of abject poverty, a battered economy, battered infrastructure, a battered people as well as addressing the structural adjustment programmes, whilst at the same time putting in place a transitional multi-party democratic programme. 5. Inspite of all the aforementioned problems, Government has put in place and is implementing an Economic Recovery Programme. In collaboration with relevant UN Agencies, Bilateral and Multilateral Donors, International and Local NGOs, we have put in place various action plans and mobilised resources in the areas of health, education, road infrastructure and other basic services. The Social Action and Poverty Alleviation (SAPA) Programme has been made operational, and has the specific mandate to address issues of poverty. In the pipeline is a UNDP 18 month Gender Mainstreaming Project. UNICEF is now funding the Area Based Programme as a strategy for promoting women's participation and empowerment. In the field of Education, an informal programme for the promotion of literacy among girls and women throughout their life cycle is being implemented. In the area of peace, steps have been taken to support Peace Education and to promote education on human rights re: the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). UNFPA, in its effort to implement the ICPD Programme of Action, is assisting Government integrating aspects of reproductive health into the National Family Planning Programme. In addition, the Population IEC Programmes has been put in place to advocate and increase awareness on the ICPD Programme of Action, particularly the Reproductive Health and Rights issues. 6. Madam Chairman Since Nairobi 1985, we have implemented some aspects of the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies. In 1988, a Women's Bureau was established and this is now operational within the Department of Social Services. In addition a National Policy on Women was formulated and ratified by Cabinet in 1989. A lot has changed since that time and the Policy is presently being reformulated to take into consideration the present realities in our country. In particular, the need for rehabilitation has become a high point. The women and children have been traumatised physically, psychologically and socially. Their needs are being addressed in our policy. 7. According to the recent Human Development Report, life expectancy is now 17 years longer than in 1960. One is however tempted to ask, what quality of longer life are we expecting w hen trade barriers cost developing countries $40 billion a year in lost export revenues; when more than three fourths of the World Population live in Developing countries but only 16% of humanity enjoy the World’s income and 85% of global income is enjoyed by the richest 20%; when private investment flows to Developing Countries increased from $5 billion to $160 billion between 1970 and 1993 but at the same time external debt of Developing Countries in 1993 amounted to more than $1.8 trillion and their debt services rose to 22% of export earnings. It is also interesting to note that out of the 16 countries in the ECOWAS region, 9 are in the bottom of the Human Development Index. We therefore hope that the conscience of the World will be jogged to realise that if we are to achieve gender equality-and development, the Women in Africa are presently suffering because of adverse economic policies that militate against our continent. 8. Madam Chairman As evidence by the foregoing, improvement in the economic and social status of women will continue to be elusive, since women will continue to subsidise their Governments by providing all aspects of caring for their families that ought to have been taken care of by their Governments. We therefore plead that debt relief be granted to all countries, presently groaning under the debt burden. I thank you all for your rapt attention.