By: Fatmata Grace Okekearu, Bo City
More than one hundred girls who are survivors of sexual and gender-based violence have called on the Government of Sierra Leone, development partners, and community stakeholders to strengthen child protection systems, improve access to justice, and expand opportunities for girls to thrive.
The call was made during the 4th Annual Girls’ Conference 2026, organised by the Commit and Act Foundation Sierra Leone in partnership with Kindermissionswerk, held on Saturday, 27 June 2026 in Bo District. The conference was convened under the theme: “Leading the Change: Amplifying Girls’ Voices for Protection, Healing and Empowerment.”
The event brought together one hundred girls who had previously benefited from the Foundation’s Safe Home, alongside representatives from the Inter-Religious Council, the Sierra Leone Police Family Support Unit, Bo City and District Councils, parents, traditional and community leaders, civil society organizations, government institutions, the media, and other stakeholders. The gathering provided a platform for girls to directly engage duty-bearers and present a comprehensive position paper outlining their challenges and recommendations for addressing gender-based violence and discrimination.
Speaking at the conference, the Founder and Country Director of Commit and Act Foundation Sierra Leone, Madam Hannah Keitel Vonjoe, said this year’s edition deliberately shifted from discussions about girls’ issues to creating space for girls themselves to speak, lead conversations, and influence decisions affecting their lives.
She explained that the conference aims to amplify girls’ voices to generate practical solutions for protection, healing, and empowerment, stressing that girls should no longer be viewed only as beneficiaries of development programmes but also as active leaders capable of driving meaningful social change.
Madam Vonjoe further disclosed that the conference is one of the flagship advocacy activities under the project titled “Enhancing Quality Support Services for Girls Who Have Experienced Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Bo District.” She noted that the programme brings together survivors who have passed through the Foundation’s Safe Home to reflect on their recovery journeys and contribute to policy discussions.
According to her, the conference also provides a safe and supportive environment where survivors of sexual and gender-based violence can share their experiences, celebrate their resilience, strengthen leadership skills, and contribute ideas to improve protection and empowerment services for girls across Sierra Leone.
Highlighting the Foundation’s impact, Madam Vonjoe presented data showing the growing number of survivors supported across the Southern and Northern Provinces, as well as the organisation’s recent expansion into the Western Area. She revealed that Commit and Act Foundation Sierra Leone currently employs more than sixty staff across its operational districts, while noting that sustaining quality services amid rising demand remains a major challenge.
Delivering the keynote address, the Deputy Chief Director for Protection at the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Madam Marian Gudie Sowonie, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to protecting girls and promoting their welfare.
She stressed that investing in girls’ safety, education, and confidence produces lasting benefits for families, communities, and national development.
Madam Sowonie explained that protection involves ending sexual violence, teenage pregnancy, and other harmful practices against girls; healing requires expanding psychosocial support, counselling services, and safe spaces for survivors; while empowerment means ensuring equal access to education, leadership opportunities, vocational skills, and economic empowerment.
She further called on communities to create safer environments where girls can live with dignity, urging citizens to remain vigilant and report cases of abuse through established referral systems and national hotlines to ensure survivors receive timely support and protection.
A major highlight of the conference was the presentation of the 2026 Girls’ Position Paper to government representatives and development partners.
In their presentation, the girls stated that many continue to suffer sexual violence, exploitation, discrimination, teenage pregnancy, child marriage, and female genital mutilation, all of which threaten their education, health, and future aspirations.
The girls disclosed that between 2024 and 2026, Commit and Act Foundation’s Safe Home provided comprehensive support to 454 girls affected by sexual and gender-based violence. While many survivors have successfully rebuilt their lives through counselling, shelter, and rehabilitation services, they noted that thousands of girls across Sierra Leone continue to face similar challenges without adequate support.
The position paper identified major challenges affecting girls, including sexual and gender-based violence, barriers to education, limited access to justice, harmful traditional and cultural practices, and insufficient participation in decision-making processes.
To address these issues, the girls recommended stronger protection measures, improved school retention for girls, timely justice for survivors, the elimination of harmful traditional practices, and increased investment in girls’ leadership, participation, and empowerment programmes.
Several participants also shared emotional testimonies of survival, resilience, and recovery, appealing to authorities, parents, and community members to believe girls when they report abuse and to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.
At the close of the conference, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening reporting and response mechanisms for abuse in schools and communities, expanding mentorship and leadership programmes for girls, and ensuring that child protection laws are fully implemented rather than remaining only on paper.
A staff member of Commit and Act Foundation Sierra Leone described the annual conference as a vital platform where girls’ voices are transformed into practical community action plans capable of influencing policy and improving the lives of girls across Sierra Leone.