By: Mamajah Jalloh
The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA), has welcomed a high-level delegation from Namibia for a South-South Learning Exchange Forum on the Gender-Based Violence Information Management System Plus (GBVIMS+).
The exchange is aimed at providing the Namibian delegation with an opportunity to learn from Sierra Leone’s experiences, institutional practices and progress in implementing GBVIMS+, particularly in strengthening the prevention of and response to gender-based violence (GBV).
Speaking on behalf of the Namibian delegation, the Head of Delegation commended the Ministry for its leadership and efforts in promoting gender equality, strengthening child protection and improving responses to gender-based violence. The delegation noted that the visit would provide valuable insights into Sierra Leone’s approaches and achievements in implementing the information management system.
In her address, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs highlighted the importance of South-South cooperation in strengthening national systems for preventing and responding to gender-based violence. She outlined Sierra Leone’s investments in legal, policy and institutional frameworks, emphasizing the critical role of GBVIMS+ in improving data management, service coordination, case referrals and evidence-based decision-making.
The Minister stressed that effective information management goes beyond data collection, explaining that reliable evidence is essential for shaping policies, strengthening interventions and improving services for survivors of gender-based violence. She also emphasised the need to protect survivors’ confidentiality, dignity and safety throughout the process.
She acknowledged the contributions of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Welfare, United Nations agencies, civil society organizations, development partners and service providers, particularly the Rainbo Initiative and the Commit and Act Foundation, whose collaboration has supported the piloting and implementation of the system.
The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening partnerships, promoting accountability and advancing survivor-centred approaches to addressing gender-based violence. She expressed confidence that the exchange would deepen cooperation between Sierra Leone and Namibia while generating valuable lessons for strengthening GBV prevention and response systems across Africa.
The visit underscores the importance of African solidarity, peer learning and collective commitment to protecting women, girls, children and other vulnerable groups from violence, exploitation and abuse.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to advancing gender equality, strengthening child protection and ensuring that evidence-based interventions translate into meaningful support and improved outcomes for survivors.