The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, unveiled groundbreaking updates and major achievements in her global empowerment initiatives during a Government Press Conference, on the 7th November, 2023 heralding a new era for the nation’s involvement on the national and international stage.
Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, led the weekly Government Press Conference and commended Her Excellency’s punctuality, symbolizing a fresh beginning for Sierra Leone. That event marked the largest Press Conference held since his assumption of office.
Taking the spotlight, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio expressed her gratitude for the support of Sierra Leone and passionately advocated for the well-being of women and girls. Her dedication to this cause stemmed from her personal experiences with the prevalence of rape during her husband’s time in opposition. Determined to combat this injustice, she initiated the “Hands Off Our Girls” Campaign, which garnered international recognition at the United Nations.
During her UN address, she underscored the importance of her request for November 18 to be designated as the UN World Day for Rape Victims, Marginalized Women and Girls and attributed her accomplishments to the unwavering support of President Julius Maada Bio.
The First Lady proudly announced her role as one of Eight Eminent Persons Championing the Zero Waste Initiative, revealing Sierra Leone as the host country for the inaugural UN Summit on Zero Waste. Her multifaceted roles within the UN, including her latest volunteer work on road safety, illustrated her global impact.
The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs commended Her Excellency’s initiatives and called for justice against gender violence perpetrators.
Representatives from civil society and the Social Welfare Ministry endorsed the First Lady’s efforts, urging collective support for national progress.
Dr. Fatima Maada Bio stressed the pivotal role of her advocacy in securing a designated day to commemorate rape victims in Sierra Leone and emphasized the transformative empowerment of survivors.
While clarifying her role as First Lady, she highlighted her limited powers but vocal stance in addressing pertinent issues with the authorities.
During the Q&A session, she emphasized the importance of empowering victims on November 18 and advocated for appropriate attire and the discouragement of commercial sex work among women.
In a related development, on November 8, 2023, the First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, led a crucial Dialogue on the World Day for Rape Victims, uniting security personnel and the Deputy Minister of Health.
Amid the global observance of November 18th as World Day for Rape Victims, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, the esteemed First Lady of Sierra Leone, orchestrated a profound discourse at her office, bringing together security personnel and the Deputy Minister of Health. This pivotal gathering highlighted the pressing need for cohesive measures and comprehensive strategies to combat and prevent gender-based violence, marking a significant step towards fostering a more secured and empathetic society.
The First Lady’s impassioned call for a comprehensive support system for survivors resonated deeply, emphasizing the pivotal role of law enforcement in safeguarding all citizens, particularly the vulnerable.
Dr. Fatima Maada Bio underscored the critical importance of collaboration among law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and community leaders, advocating for policy reforms to hold perpetrators accountable and deter future incidents of gender-based violence.
Her emphasis on comprehensive educational programs and increased public awareness initiatives underscored the significance of early intervention and preventive measures in curbing the prevalence of sexual violence.
Furthermore, on November 10, 2023, the First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, actively participated in strategic planning meetings with the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, the Sierra Leone Police, and development partners. The purpose of such collaboration was to ensure a secure environment for the upcoming World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Sexual Exploitation, Violence, and Abuse, scheduled for November 18th. This joint initiative underscores her commitment and aspirations for the successful execution of the commemoration event.
In a related development, she revealed plans to establish a scholarship and business startup initiative for victims of rape, as part of the commemoration of November 18.
In 2022, the First Lady spearheaded an initiative at the United Nations to designate a dedicated day for survivors of rape and sexual violence. Her advocacy led to the United Nations proclaiming November 18 as the ‘United Nations World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence’.
To mark the ‘United Nations World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence’ for the first time in Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio pledged to offer university scholarships, vocational training, and business capital to rape victims.
“I want to commemorate this important day in Sierra Leone with rape victims, pray with them, and also, for a start, my Foundation will provide university support, vocational training, and business capital,” she stated.
This year’s commemoration will take place in Sierra Leone, with the participation of First Ladies from Nigeria, represented by Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Angola, represented by Her Excellency Ana Dias Lourenco. The renowned Nigerian singer, Osinachi Kalu, will also perform as a guest singer at the event, hosted at the Winners Chapel.
During the press briefing, the First Lady additionally disclosed that Sierra Leone will host the United Nations ‘Zero Waste Summit’ in Freetown next year.
Dr. Fatima Maada Bio has been selected as one of eight eminent members by the United Nations to champion ‘Zero Waste’ initiatives worldwide. The Chair of the Advisory Board of Zero Waste, Her Excellency Emine Erdogan, the First Lady of Turkey, is expected to visit Sierra Leone to witness the event.
