By: Saidu Jalloh
At the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown, the Honourable Minister of Social Welfare, Mrs. Melrose Karminty, delivered a powerful address during Families Conference 2025, held under the theme “Building Stronger Families Through Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection.”
Addressing a distinguished audience of government officials, development partners, religious leaders, and civil society representatives, the Honourable Minister emphasized that women’s empowerment is not merely a gender issue but a vital pillar of national development.
She praised the unwavering efforts of First Lady Fatima Maada Bio for her advocacy on behalf of women and girls a dedication that, according to the Minister, continues to inspire significant policy reforms across Sierra Leone.
Furthermore, she highlighted the recent passage of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act as a milestone achievement, reinforcing the importance of safeguarding children’s rights and empowering women as essential components of building resilient family structures. This, she noted, is especially crucial amid economic hardships, increased migration, and rising social instability.
The Minister reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment to implementing community-based social protection programs, promoting inclusive parenting models, and strengthening laws that protect children from abuse and exploitation. She called for coordinated, multisectoral efforts to enhance child protection from the household level to the wider community.
Additionally, she urged stakeholders to boost investment in women-led businesses and to actively involve men as equal partners in nurturing safe, loving, and functional homes.
Highlighting the importance of mental health, the Honourable Minister stressed its role in healing families affected by trauma and stress. She further urged policymakers and community leaders to recognize women and children as active agents of change.
In conclusion, the Minister asserted that building families grounded in dignity, respect, and mutual support is essential to achieving lasting peace and prosperity in Sierra Leone. She pledged to lead the conference with decisive action, moving beyond promises to transform homes, schools, and communities nationwide.