By Foday Moriba Conteh
In order to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Sierra Leone, Liberty Online Television and the Irish Embassy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on November 6, 2024. This partnership seeks to produce impactful content on GBV and other harmful practices to coincide with the 16 Days of Activism, a global campaign to end violence against women and girls.
Gender-based violence remains a critical issue in Sierra Leone, where forced marriage, rape, domestic abuse and sexual harassment are prevalent. Early marriage, adolescent pregnancy and female genital mutilation (FGM) are also widespread, leaving lasting social and economic impacts on women and girls across the nation.
The Irish Embassy in Sierra Leone has long supported gender equality initiatives, working to empower women and foster policies that protect women and girls. Since launching the Irish Working Group on Gender-Based Violence in Sierra Leone (IWGGBV-SL) in 2016, the embassy has been instrumental in mobilizing efforts to combat GBV and other practices harmful to women and girls.
Liberty Online Television has consistently provided a platform for raising awareness on social issues and has empowered victims to share their stories, advocating for societal change. Through this partnership with the Irish Embassy, Liberty Online Television aims to spotlight systemic challenges facing women and girls, engaging duty bearers and the public in meaningful conversations around these critical issues.
The MOU is set to enhance advocacy efforts during this year’s 16 Days of Activism, which takes place from November 25 to December 10. The 2024 campaign theme: “Stopping Family and Domestic Violence: Play Your Part,” emphasizes the collective responsibility to end violence against women and girls.
At the signing ceremony were Carol Hannon, Head of Development at the Irish Embassy in Sierra Leone, and Kadijah Bangura, Managing Partner at Liberty Online Television, both expressing commitment to this important cause and the hope for constructive change in Sierra Leone.
