By: Saidu Jalloh
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr Isata Mahoi, delivered a compelling address during the Ministry of Information and Civic Education Weekly Press Conference, where she highlighted the nation’s enduring struggle for women and girls’ rights and the remarkable progress made in this journey.
Dr. Mahoi began her speech by expressing gratitude to her hosts and attendees, which included the First Lady, the Minister of Social Welfare, and the Minister of Information and Civic Education.
The Minister acknowledged that the battle for women’s and girls’ rights has been ongoing since the historic 1995 Declaration of Women’s Rights in Beijing. Sierra Leone has positioned itself as a champion for this declaration, which has played a pivotal role in promoting women and girls’ rights globally.
The Minister stressed the nation’s unwavering commitment, particularly evident in 2007 when the three Gender Acts – the Domestic Violence Act, Customary Marriage Act, and more – were introduced. Despite these legislative advances, challenges remained, revealing gaps in the existing laws.
However, Sierra Leone continued to strengthen its commitment, culminating in significant developments in 2020 and 2022. In 2020, the government introduced the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment policy, demonstrating a profound commitment to gender equality. Subsequently, in 2022, a series of crucial laws, including the Customary Land Act and the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, came into effect. These legislative milestones signified Sierra Leone’s political will to respect and uphold the rights of women.
Dr. Mahoi emphasized the transformative impact of these laws, particularly in allowing women to own property and access loans from banks, thereby promoting financial empowerment.
Political representation also saw a significant shift, with the number of female parliamentarians increasing from 18 to 42. The cabinet witnessed an even more significant change, with the number of female cabinet ministers rising from 3 to 10, and 11 deputy ministers. These changes have positioned Sierra Leone as a global competitor, granting more rights to women and girls.
The Minister’s ministry played a pivotal role in championing the implementation of laws related to women and girls. She stressed the importance of monitoring and accountability and called for unity in the fight for women’s and girls’ rights, overcoming political divides.
Dr. Mahoi extended the commitment to community engagement, civil society organizations, and collaboration with parliamentarians and local councilors. She applauded the newly sworn-in APC parliamentarians and expressed her intention to work with all female parliamentarians to enhance networking, capacity building, and coaching, ensuring the success of initiatives.
The “Hands Off Our Girls” initiative by the First Lady received Dr. Mahoi’s full support, as she outlined a street strategy to address the issue of children sleeping on the streets. She emphasized the need to uplift the lives of these children.
The Minister also highlighted the fight against gender-based violence, sexual violence, and the existence of one-stop centers for victims. Despite challenges, Sierra Leone remains committed to pushing forward in these areas. The 116 toll-free line is being expanded to ensure wider access.
In closing, Dr. Isata Mahoi called for continued support for the “Hands Off Our Girls” initiative, emphasizing the importance of combating issues affecting women and girls.
