Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Fifty Most Influential Sierra Leonean Women Awards Committee, through the Kids Advocacy Network, has strongly condemned what it describes as an attempt by some Members of Parliament to intimidate the First Lady, Her Excellency Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio, during the State Opening of Parliament.
In a statement, the committee described the incident as “disrespectful” to the office of the First Lady and damaging to the dignity of women in public life.
It stressed that Parliament, as a key arm of government, has a constitutional obligation to protect and empower women, not create environments where they feel belittled, harassed, or intimidated.
The group has called on the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament to issue a public apology to Mrs. Bio on behalf of the House, and to initiate a formal investigation into the matter.
“The democratic progress of Sierra Leone depends on a culture of respect, inclusion, and protection for women’s participation in governance,” the statement read, urging lawmakers to uphold the highest standards of conduct and lead by example.
