By: Aminata Sesay
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Hon. Dr. Isata Mahoi, has called for a paradigm shift in addressing gender-based violence (GBV), emphasizing survivor-led accountability as a critical approach. Speaking at a high-level side event during the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, Dr. Mahoi highlighted the urgent need to place survivors at the center of policy and decision-making processes.
The event, hosted by the Irish Consortium on Gender-Based Violence (ICGBV) at Ireland’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN), brought together key global stakeholders. Among the distinguished participants were H.E. Fergal Mythen, Ireland’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, and Ms. Katrine Coppens, Executive Director of the Mukwege Foundation. Discussions focused on how survivor-led approaches can drive systemic change in combating sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) globally.
Dr. Mahoi highlighted the persistent challenges in eradicating violence against women and girls, despite decades of international commitments, including the Beijing Declaration adopted nearly 30 years ago.
“For too long, survivors have been viewed as recipients of aid rather than active agents of change. Nothing can be truly transformative without their leadership,” she stated.
She praised ICGBV’s research on survivor-led accountability and encouraged other nations to integrate these findings into their national GBV policies. The discussion emphasized the importance of shifting from survivor-centered approaches—focused on support and services—to survivor-led models, where survivors actively participate in designing interventions. This, she argued, is key to lasting reform.
Dr. Mahoi also outlined Sierra Leone’s progress in strengthening legal frameworks and support systems for GBV survivors. Among the key reforms she cited were:
She commended Ireland’s Embassy in Sierra Leone for its support in advancing multi-sectorial GBV responses and reaffirmed her Ministry’s commitment to strengthening survivor-led interventions.
The event also featured key findings from ICGBV’s research on how survivor-led initiatives are shaping government policies in Ireland. Dr. Mahoi urged policymakers and advocacy groups to adopt similar accountability frameworks worldwide.
“Today’s discussions have reinforced that survivor-led approaches are the future of effective GBV interventions. We must not only provide survivors with resources but also with decision-making power,” she said.
As the session concluded, Dr. Mahoi called on governments, NGOs, and international partners to prioritize survivor leadership in their strategies, ensuring long-term, systemic change in the fight against GBV worldwide.
