According to the Head of Peace and Conflict Department, if GBV is not eliminated it serves as an implication for losses in potential human capacity noting that if eliminated then the country’s capacity for human resource mobilization contributing to nation building would greatly improve.
She added that in Rwanda, women lost out on their contribution to national development which resulted in under utilization of their capacity in relation to enhancing human resource contribution to GDP growth, noting that if Sierra Leone applied this policy, we shall realize that the country is losing 60% of its development potentials as a result of the improper use of the abilities, expertise and capabilities of women.
“GBV is a human rights violation and also a public health challenge and a barrier to civil, social, political and economic participation of women, noting that it undermines not only the safety, dignity and overall health status and the human rights of women but affects public health, economic stability and security of the nation,” Memunatu Pratt said.
GBV according to the Head of Peace and Conflict Department at University of Sierra Leone, exists in various forms and impacts negatively on societies, communities and families in various ways, adding that the impact of GBV can be physical, psychological, political, emotional and economic which manifests itself in the existence of discriminating laws and practices which lack access to justice, lack of education for the girl child, lack of opportunities for training and capacity building for women and discriminating practices of the roles of women in the society.
“We have been made to believe that women are not cut-out for certain jobs; as some are mainly the domain of men while women are considered the weaker sex because they are women,” Memunatu Pratt said.
“We are now categorically saying that women are equally capable of doing well even more than the men in many spheres of life. Women as their roles are defined in the home context are capable of being better managers than men and are less corrupt,” she said.
