SIERRA LEONE WOMAN BARRED FROM ELECTIONS
Dec 16th, 2009 by admin
One woman’s fight to be allowed to run in an election has stirred up debate around women’s rights in Sierra Leone. Elizabeth Torto and her supporters have been targeted by opponents in eastern Sierra Leone following her bid to become chief of the Kono district. Torto was barred by officials from running in elections two weeks ago because of her gender. She has already lost an appeal against the ban, but vowed to take her case to the country’s Supreme Court. Torto had to be protected by armed police, United Nations officials and women’s rights campaigners after being prevented from returning to her home on Monday, which had been overrun by protesters. Women are allowed to become chiefs in southern Sierra Leone, but custom and tradition still bans them from political life in the Northern Province and most of the east.
