10/11/2025
Sierra Leone’s Gender Minister Participates in Reykjavik Global Forum of Women Leaders
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Hon. Dr. Isata Mahoi, participated in the Reykjavik Global Forum of Women Leaders in Iceland, which brought together over 500 global leaders under the theme “Power, Together for Change!” The Forum focused on issues such as equal pay, representation, parental leave, and the fight against gender-based violence.
Dr. Mahoi joined a high-level panel alongside the former President of Lithuania and the former Prime Minister of Finland, where she shared Sierra Leone’s journey in strengthening democracy and advancing women’s leadership. Reflecting on the 1991–2002 civil war, she underscored women’s crucial roles in peacebuilding and community mobilization despite suffering greatly during the conflict.
The Minister noted that women still face intimidation, displacement, and limited post-election support during elections. However, she highlighted the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act (2024) as a major milestone, helping women secure 34.5% of parliamentary seats, surpassing the 30% benchmark. The number of female councillors and speakers has also grown significantly.
Dr. Mahoi emphasized the formation of the Network of Women Ministers and Parliamentarians (2023), which fosters solidarity across political divides despite limited resources. She reaffirmed her Ministry’s commitment to championing women’s and children’s rights, including through initiatives like the Real Man Campaign, which engages traditional and community leaders to combat gender-based violence.
She also announced the development of an Accountability Framework to enhance institutional gender integration and monitoring, and regional collaboration through the Mano River Union to strengthen cross-border advocacy for women’s rights.
Citing the recent passage of the Child Rights Act (2025) and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2024), Dr. Mahoi noted new mechanisms for digital reporting to support survivors. As Sierra Leone’s national champion of the One Billion Rising Campaign, she continues to promote women’s dignity and inclusion.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Mahoi called for stronger global policy implementation, stressing that economic empowerment is key for women to challenge inequality and fully participate in governance and leadership.
Culled from Ministry of Gender and Children's Affair-SL (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JD9txQtre/)