By: Precious Miracle Kargbo (Snr)
Mrs. Asmaa James, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and non-resident envoy to the European Union, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Greece, and the Vatican, this week highlighted the country’s progress under the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 programme aimed at ending violence against women and girls.
Appointed by Julius Maada Bio in July 2024 and confirmed the following month, James a former journalist and founder of Rise Radio presented Sierra Leone’s implementation experience as a strong example of political will combined with targeted programming.
Addressing an audience of diplomats, development partners, and civil society representatives, she emphasized that coordinated government leadership and community engagement are key to translating policy into real protection for women and girls.
James credited strong ministerial leadership for recent gains. “The sustained commitment of the Government of Sierra Leone, alongside dedicated leadership from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs and the Ministry of Justice, has driven tangible progress,” she said. Her remarks echoed praise from EU representative Renaud Savignat and Erin Kenny, who also participated in the panel.
She outlined key elements of Sierra Leone’s approach, including strengthening legal frameworks and enforcement, expanding survivor-centered services, and investing in public awareness and prevention programmes. James highlighted improved coordination among community protection actors, police Family Support Units, and justice-sector institutions as examples of system-wide progress that enables survivors to access care and seek justice.
Participants underscored the importance of partnerships, praising Sierra Leone’s model of combining national leadership with international support to scale interventions and strengthen institutional capacity. James expressed appreciation to the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Isata Mahoi, for her leadership and acknowledged the contributions of fellow panelists.
Speakers also noted remaining challenges, including the need for predictable long-term financing, deeper community engagement to address harmful social norms, and stronger monitoring systems to measure outcomes beyond outputs. James called for renewed focus on these areas, emphasizing the need for “collective action, strong partnerships, and unwavering commitment” to close existing gaps.
The event served both as a platform to showcase Sierra Leone’s progress under Spotlight Initiative 2.0 and to seek continued support from EU institutions, United Nations partners, and bilateral donors. For James, it was an opportunity to position Sierra Leone as a proactive partner in the global effort to end gender-based violence a mission that requires sustained commitment, adequate resources, and coordinated action to achieve lasting protection for women and girls.
