New York, 9 March 2025 – The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs of Sierra Leone, Dr. Isata Mahoi, has arrived in New York as the head of delegation to participate in the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), taking place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 10 to 21 March 2025. Accompanied by the Minister of Social Welfare, Mrs. Melrose Kaminty, and other senior government officials, the delegation will engage in high-level discussions and events focused on the theme of , under the theme of “Partnerships for Gender Advancement and Equality”. This year (2025) marks the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995).
Sierra Leone’s head of delegation is scheduled to deliver the country’s national statement during the general discussion, highlighting progress and priorities in promoting and consolidating women’s rights. Additionally, the Minister will participate in a ministerial roundtable, emphasizing Sierra Leone’s commitment to the CSW69 theme of accelerating gender equality and strengthening women’s leadership in sustainable development.
As noted by UN-Women, the main focus of the CSW69 “will be on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly. The review will include an assessment of current challenges that affect the implementation of the Platform for Action and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and its contribution towards the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
As part of its engagement, Sierra Leone will host two signature side-events, bringing together global partners to discuss key gender issues. The delegation will also collaborate with Liberia in co-hosting a special event featuring former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
The CSW69 session provides a critical platform for Sierra Leone to showcase its efforts in advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, given the country’s critical leadership role on the WPS agenda in the UN Security Council, as well as broader initiatives aimed at enhancing gender equality and social protection.
