Women and Men in Partnership for Post-Conflict Reconstruction Report of the Sierra Leone National Consultation, Freetown, Sierra Leone 21-24 May 2001

"There can be no peace without gender equality and no development without peace and equality.. I wish to pay tribute to all the women of Sierra Leone who, in very trying conditions, continue to be at the forefront of the national struggle to rebuild society." -- Angela King, UN Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, May 2002Following a decade of armed conflict that led to the virtual collapse of the country's social, economic, legal and political fabric, the Sierra Leone National Consultation on "Women and Men in Partnership for Post-Conflict Reconstruction", held in Freetown on 21-24 May 2001, brought together 250 people from governmental and non-governmental organizations to discuss ways in which the war has impacted differently on women, children and men and how best to ensure gender equality in all reconstruction efforts.The papers contained within this report examine the following issues from a gender perspective:* political and public decision-making* security and peace-building* legal reform * violence and other crimes against women and children* poverty, economic recovery and empowerment * health, HIV/AIDS and STIs* resettlement of displaced persons and rehabilitation of ex-combatants* the role of young people in post-conflict reconstruction By gathering together into thematic workshops representatives from community-based organisations, government, the judiciary, the police, district councils, women's and youth groups and regional and international NGOs, the consultation provided a national platform for Sierra Leoneans to share their experiences and views, and define their own solutions, so that women, men and young people can work together to create a more equitable, stable and prosperous future. Published by Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children's Affairs, Sierra Leone in collaboration with Commonwealth Secretariat, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), The British Council, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)Baksh-Sodeen, Rawwida is the author of 'Women and Men in Partnership for Post-Conflict Reconstruction Report of the Sierra Leone National Consultation, Freetown, Sierra Leone 21-24 May 2001', published 2003 under ISBN 9780850927443 and ISBN 0850927447.