By: Saidu Jalloh
In a landmark event held on Friday at the Family Kingdom, Hon. Isata Mahoi, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, took the stage to spearhead Sierra Leone’s response to the escalating crisis of online violence against women and girls. The occasion marked the official launch of the Body Rights Campaign, strategically unveiled within the global initiative of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Addressing a distinguished audience including Colleague Minister Mr. Chernor Bah, the Commissioner of the National Youth Commission, and the Country Representative of UNFPA, Minister Mahoi commended the First Lady’s declaration of the 16 Days of Activism on November 25, 2023. She expressed delight at being part of this crucial campaign, emphasizing the government’s commitment to collectively combat all forms of violence against women and girls.
Under the global theme “Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls,” Minister Mahoi called on stakeholders to prioritize financing prevention strategies. She stated that violence against women and girls is preventable, underscoring the collective responsibility to ensure its eradication.
Highlighting Sierra Leone’s concrete steps, Hon. Mahoi referenced the nation’s commitment to international and regional instruments such as CEDAW, BDPfA, Vienna Declaration, UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820, and the Maputo Protocol. The Cyber Crime Bill of 2020, with a focus on online child sexual abuse, reflected the country’s proactive approach.
In the era of evolving threats, Hon. Mahoi drew attention to online violence, a global concern affecting 85% of women, with 4 out of 10 personally experiencing it. She revealed startling statistics, indicating the misuse or abuse of pictures or videos of over 55% of women and over 95% of online deep fake videos being pornographic, predominantly targeting women.
The minister proudly joined UNFPA in launching the new campaign on body rights, specifically targeting enhanced security against online digital violence. Minister Mahoi emphasized the collective responsibility required to combat this new wave of attacks on women and girls.
Addressing the youth, Hon. Mahoi acknowledged the government’s efforts to integrate technology and innovation into the development agenda, with the establishment of the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation. While recognizing the internet’s vital role, she urged caution regarding its potential downsides.
She assured UNFPA and the youth of her Ministry’s commitment to providing the necessary policy and legal framework to address gender-based violence comprehensively. She encouraged input into the medium-term national development plan, aligning institutional priorities with the government’s agenda.
