Photo: Lindsay Stark | Wikimedia
Women in Sierra Leone now have equal rights with men to own, lease, or buy land, a huge leap forward for women in the west African country, where at least 95% of land is governed by customary law. Years of advocacy led to the Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment 2021, which provides that a person who discriminates in providing access to land resources, based on gender, can be fined or imprisoned. Women can now be appointed paramount chiefs, and the new law requires 30% representation in public and private offices, including land committees. Gender minister Manty Tarawalli said mens' attitudes have been gradually changing through public participation forums, paving the way for acceptance of the law's provisions.
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