Elizabeth Simbiwa Sogbo-Tortu

Elizabeth Simbiwa Sogbo-Tortu is a Sierra Leonean woman who was the subject of controversy after her 2009 bid to become a the paramount Niminyama chief was rejected because of her gender.

Chieftanship

In 2009, Elizabeth Simbiwa Sogbo-Tortu sought to become the paramount Niminyama chief within Sierra Leone in 2009.[1] At the time, women were barred from holding chieftainships in Northern Province and much of the east of the country, but female chiefs were allowed in the south of the country.[2] The Chieftan Act 2009 had recently made it legal for the children of former chieftans to compete for the chieftanship, despite their agenda. As such, Sogbo-Tortu was qualified since her father was the former chief.[1] She was one of ten people competing for the position, but was barred from standing despite having been born into a ruling house and being the eldest. Others attempting to become chief included Sogbo-Tortu's nephews. After her disqualification, one of her nephews was appointed chief.[2]

Sogbo-Tortu subsequently filed a legal appeal to her disqualification which was rejected, with her deciding to take the case to the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone afterwards. She was escorted by armed police, United Nations officials, and women's rights activists when she attempted to return her home in Sewase, eastern Kono District. En-route, they were attacked by rock-throwing members of the Poro secret society. She subsequently travelled to Freetown instead.[2]

Yasmine Jusu-Sheriff, vice-chair of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, stated she would support Sogbo-Tortu in taking the case to the Supreme Court.[2] While pursuing the case with the Supreme Court, the case of Iye Kendor Bandabla was heard by the High Court, to agreed that she could become a chief.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Fofonah, Mohamed (15 December 2009). "Woman Breaking Traditional Walls in Chieftaincy Elections". Inter Press Service. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Sierra Leone woman barred from becoming chief". BBC News. 15 December 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  3. ↑ Bottoff, Andrea (16 March 2010). "Sierra Leone judge rules woman can become local chief". Jurist. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/6/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.