Ambassador Francess Virginia Anderson Pays Courtesy Call On Chairman of the Turkish Parliamentary Commission For Equal Opportunities For Women and Men, Solicits Partnership For Country’s Parliamentary Female Caucus

Grand National Assembly, Ankara, Türkiye, Tuesday 14 October 2025 -* Sierra Leone Ambassador to Türkiye, Her Excellency Francess Virginia Anderson, PhD, has paid a courtesy call on Honorable Çiğdem Erdoğan, Chairperson for the Parliamentary Commission For Equal Opportunities For Women and Men; and has solicited partnership for Sierra Leone’s Parliamentary Female Caucus.

Honorable Çiğdem Erdoğan is the member of parliament representing the Sakarya province in the Turkish National Grand Assemble.

The Turkish Parliamentary Commission For Equal Opportunities For Women and Men promotes equal opportunity for everyone, and reducing negative disparities, and strategic oversight of Government’s equality policy for women.

In a statement, Ambassador Francess Anderson, PhD, thanked Honorable Çiğdem Erdoğan for the warm reception accorded to her and her delegation, saying that her visit was a result of their last interaction at a dinner, where the Turkish member of Parliament expressed time for further discussion in areas of partnership in Sierra Leone.

“The role of your Commission aligns very well with Sierra Leone’s agenda for a 30% quota for women participation across all levels in governance.

“Currently, women lawmakers account for 30.4% of the elected seats in the Sierra Leone Parliament, compared to the 15.9% in the previous election, she explained”.
Ambassador Anderson solicited possible collaboration between the Turkish National Grand Assembly, and the Sierra Leone Parliament, particularly in knowledge exchange programs between the Parliamentary Commission For Equal Opportunities For Women and Men, and the Sierra Leone Parliamentary Female Caucus.

She further told the meeting that the Sierra Leone Parliamentary Female Caucus serves as a critical measure for enhancing women’s representation in all areas of governance, to create a non-partisan forum to identify, discuss, adopt and implement issues of common interest/concern and challenges to not only women parliamentarians, but also for women across governance.

Also, highlighting the pivotal role of the recently passed Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Bill. The Act, which was passed in December 2022, being a landmark legislation aimed at promoting gender equality and empowering women across various sectors, including politics, law, banking, and the private sector.

On her path, Honorable Çiğdem Erdoğan expressed gratitude to Ambassador Anderson, saying that Sierra Leone and Türkiye continue to enjoy strong diplomatic ties, ranging from medical, economic, and educational ties. She added that cooperation between the two parliaments is needed and one that is urgent.

“Sierra Leone has always supported us in the Zero Waste Initiative of the First Lady of Türkiye, Her Excellency Emine Erdoğan. The Zero Waste initiative is a pivotal international gathering dedicated to transforming our relationship with materials, consumption, and the environment. With this, I think our parliaments should have stronger ties.

“We will be happy to be a partner and example to our counterparts in Sierra Leone. We will realize this soon. Thank you very much madam Ambassador”, she concluded.