Freetown, April 28, 2026 (SLENA)-Government has renewed its commitment to ending Bender-Based Violence (GBV), with the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, delivering a strong statement at the Spotlight Initiative Sierra Leone 2.0 Baseline Study Validation Workshop in Freetown.
Addressing stakeholders, development partners, and civil society representatives, Dr. Mahoi described the baseline study as a strategic tool for evidence-based policy and programming. She said the findings will help strengthen survivor-centered services and expose gaps in coordination, accessibility, and data management across the country.
The Minister noted key achievements, especially the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act of 2022. She also reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s alignment with international frameworks, including CEDAW and the Sustainable Development Goals, both aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls.
Dr. Mahoi assured participants of her Ministry’s resolve to intensify prevention efforts, expand essential services to rural and hard-to-reach communities, and build institutional capacity through coordinated action. She stressed that multi-sectoral collaboration is essential for lasting results.
The Spotlight Initiative Sierra Leone 2.0, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Ministry alongside UN agencies, remains a flagship programme promoting collective action. It seeks a safer, more equitable society where women and girls can live free from violence, fear, and discrimination.
The workshop marks another step forward in Sierra Leone’s ongoing efforts to combat GBV and reinforce partnerships that protect the rights and dignity of women and girls nationwide.
Correspondent: Kelvin Mark Kargbo
MoGCA Communications Unit
Email: mkelson367@gmail.com