By: Precious Miracle Kargbo (Snr)
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Hon. Isata Mahoi, has called for stronger global action to protect children from violence during the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, engaging in high-level discussions to strengthen child-protection systems.
On the margins of the session, Minister Mahoi met with Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, to deepen collaboration and reinforce national and regional child-protection frameworks.
During the meeting, Minister Mahoi reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to translating international standards into practical reforms that protect children from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. She stressed the importance of aligning national policies with global best practices, strengthening prevention programmes, and improving coordination across social services, health, and justice sectors.
The Minister outlined key priorities, including expanding community-based prevention initiatives, training frontline workers in child safeguarding, and enhancing data collection systems to improve timely responses to incidents. She also called for increased technical and financial support from UN partners to scale up evidence-based interventions and strengthen legal frameworks that ensure accountability for offenders while safeguarding survivors.
Dr. M’jid welcomed Sierra Leone’s proactive approach and expressed readiness to strengthen the partnership through targeted technical assistance, capacity building, and knowledge exchange with countries that have made measurable progress in reducing violence against children. Both officials emphasized the importance of incorporating children’s voices into programme design and investing in school-based and community-led prevention strategies.
Observers at CSW70 noted that the engagement reflects a broader effort by low- and middle-income countries to secure tailored support from UN mechanisms in implementing child-protection commitments. As Sierra Leone advances reforms domestically, Minister Mahoi indicated plans to develop a detailed action plan and engage development partners to translate commitments made at CSW70 into tangible outcomes.
The meeting underscores Sierra Leone’s determination to contribute to a strengthened global coalition aimed at ending violence against children, in line with priorities advanced during CSW70.
