At the opening of the Women’s Rights Review Conference on Wednesday 27th August 2025, Sierra Leone’s Honourable Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs delivered a goodwill message emphasizing the nation’s commitment to advancing women’s rights and regional solidarity.
Hosted at the Sierra Palms Hotel, Freetown, and convened by the Women in Politics Forum (WIPF), the conference brought together feminist advocates, civil society leaders, and policymakers from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia, Togo and Nigeria. The purpose was to review frameworks on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), identify persistent gaps, and co-develop a unified advocacy strategy for ECOWAS and national parliaments.
In her address, the Honourable Minister welcomed delegates and described the forum as “a timely opportunity to accelerate collective action against violence and discrimination faced by women and girls across the region.” She emphasized that challenges such as sexual and gender-based violence, child marriage, and underrepresentation in politics transcend borders, requiring harmonized regional responses and stronger accountability mechanisms.
Highlighting Sierra Leone’s progress, she pointed to the GEWE Policy (2020) and the landmark GEWE Act (2022), which guarantees 30% women’s representation in decision-making. She further outlined reforms such as gender-responsive budgeting and the integration of gender priorities into the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030), noting that these initiatives place women at the centre of inclusive national development.
At the same time, she acknowledged persistent structural barriers, including cultural resistance, gaps in service delivery, and weak enforcement of protective laws. She therefore urged governments, civil society, and development partners to translate commitments into tangible improvements in the daily lives of women and girls.
Furthermore, reaffirming her Ministry’s dedication, the Honourable Minister pledged to deepen collaboration with regional partners, ensuring that women’s voices are not only heard but also shape decision-making at every level. She described the conference as “a vital milestone in our collective journey towards a safer, fairer, and more inclusive West Africa where women and girls can thrive without fear or limitation.”
Finally, Dr. Isata Mahoi commended WIPF and its partners for convening this landmark event and expressed her hope that the outcomes will strengthen both national advocacy and regional action to advance women’s rights across West Africa.