By: Abu H. Kargbo | Makeni City
The Women’s Forum for Human Rights and Democracy (WOFHRAD) has engaged women from various sectors in Bombali District to mobilize support for the Sierra Leone Women’s Communiqué and advocate for the inclusion of women’s rights and empowerment provisions in the ongoing constitutional review process.
The engagement, held on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at the Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU) Hall in Makeni, brought together female politicians, police and military officers, activists, traders, farmers and students to discuss strategies for advancing women’s participation in governance and national development.
The session was facilitated by Sahr Kendema of the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), who explained that the Women’s Communiqué seeks to strengthen the status of women by advocating for the incorporation of the socio-political and economic recommendations of the 2004 Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) into the ongoing constitutional review process.
Kendema acknowledged progress made by successive governments in implementing some of the recommendations, including the enactment of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act in 2022. However, he stressed the need for further action, particularly the constitutional recognition of measures to guarantee at least 30 per cent representation of women in Cabinet and other political positions.
“No nation can develop without the effective participation of women in national development,” he emphasised.
He further disclosed that WOFHRAD, in collaboration with CGG and other civil society organizations, is engaging the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, parliamentarians and other stakeholders to monitor the constitutional review process and advocate for the implementation of the Sierra Leone Women’s Communiqué.
Speaking on the rationale behind the initiative, Kemoh Mansaray, Chief Project Officer at WOFHRAD, said the campaign seeks to incorporate the TRC’s socio-political and economic recommendations, alongside existing gender-related laws, into the Constitution.
He explained that the advocacy is grounded in the supremacy of the Constitution, as provided for under Section 171(15) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.
Mansaray said the engagement was organised not only to familiarize women in Bombali District with the contents of the communiqué but also to build a united grassroots movement, strengthen collective messaging and develop effective advocacy strategies to advance the communiqué through the constitutional review process.
He urged participants to take an active role in promoting the initiative by educating and mobilizing other women in their communities, noting that the Constitution plays a critical role in shaping individual opportunities and determining the country’s development direction.
Meanwhile, Marion I. Bangura, a trader and representative of Women Progress, commended WOFHRAD for organizing the engagement, describing it as an important opportunity to strengthen women’s confidence and participation in decision-making processes.
She said the engagement had empowered women to make meaningful contributions to the ongoing constitutional review process and broader governance issues.
Similarly, Isatu Fofanah, President of the Bombali Women in Leadership Network and former Deputy Mayor of Makeni City Council, praised WOFHRAD for its efforts to advance women’s rights and representation.
She called on women to unite and collectively advocate for a Constitution that protects their rights, promotes equal opportunities and guarantees their meaningful participation in national development.