STATEMENT BY
H.E. DR. ISATA MAHOI
MINISTER OF GENDER AND CHILDREN’S AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE
Mr Chair, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
Sierra Leone is honored to participate in this 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women and the landmark Beijing +30 review. We align ourselves with the statements delivered on behalf of African Group and G77 and China.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to the full implementation of the 12 critical areas of concern outlined in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Over the past three decades, we have made significant progress in strengthening legislative and policy frameworks to promote gender equality and empower women and girls.
The adoption of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act of 2022 marked a transformative milestone in our journey toward gender equality. This landmark legislation has expanded women’s participation in political and public life, enhanced their access to economic resources, and promote equality in employment.
Our commitment to gender mainstreaming is reflected in the integration of gender-responsive provisions across key sectoral legislations, including on employment, mineral development, public elections, political participation, land rights, and the prohibition of human trafficking.
Recognizing the urgent need to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, we have enacted robust legislation, including the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2019, which imposes stricter penalties for sexual offences, and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024, which criminalizes all forms of marriage involving girls under 18 years of age.
Beyond legislative reforms, Sierra Leone is implementing strategic interventions to strengthen service provision for survivors of gender-based violence. These include the establishment of One-Stop Centers, the creation of a Sexual Offences Model Court, the launch of a Toll-Free Helpline for rape survivors, and the revision of the SGBV Referral Protocol, complemented by an e-Referral Pathway with a Gender-Based Violence Information Management System.
These measures, championed by His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and Her Excellency First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Jabbie Bio, reflect our leadership’s unwavering commitment to dismantling systemic barriers to gender equality.
Mr Chair,
Sierra Leone’s gender-responsive Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024-2030) ensures equitable access to services and resources for women and girls. We continue to align our national efforts with global commitments, including CEDAW, the Beijing Declaration, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Furthermore, our third-generation National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 underscores our dedication to advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda, particularly during our current tenure as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council, including as co-chair of the Informal Expert Group (IEG) on WPS in 2024.
Mr Chair,
Despite global progress, women and girls continue to face discrimination, inequality, and gender-based violence. The backlash against women’s rights threatens to reverse hard-won gains. Women remain disproportionately affected by poverty and conflict, and gender gaps persist across all sectors.
The regional Ministerial Conferences leading up to this review have been instrumental in assessing achievements and challenges. The African Common Position Document reaffirms our collective commitment to advancing all 12 critical areas of concern and ensuring inclusive participation, particularly of young women, civil society, and marginalized groups.
In closing, Mr Chair, hard-won progress on women’s and girls’ rights is at risk of being eroded in many parts of the world. We call on States and non-state actors engaged in armed conflict to silence the guns, cease attacks on girls and women, and allow lifesaving aid to reach the millions in need. We call for women’s voices to be heard, in boardrooms, in community centers, and in decision-making forums where policies affecting our lives and livelihoods are shaped.
Sierra Leone reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the rights of women and girls and to advancing progress across all 12 critical areas of concern.
I thank you.
