By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a landmark move to bridge the gender gap in Sierra Leone, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio officially launched the “#WeAreEqual Campaign” and signed the Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill 2024 into law on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at the Freetown International Conference Center. This initiative seeks to combat entrenched cultural stereotypes that limit women’s access to healthcare, education, and opportunities. The event attracted notable attendance from first ladies, dignitaries, government ministers, public and private organizations, and development partners.
Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio expressed her joy and gratitude for the campaign’s launch, emphasizing its mission to ensure equality and justice for all. She underscored the importance of respect and dignity for women, urging society to treat women with the consideration they deserve. Highlighting that Sierra Leone has joined 16 other countries in this initiative, she proudly noted the success of the “Hands Off Our Girls Campaign,” which has significantly improved school retention rates for girls. The First Lady also mentioned the medical scholarships her office provides and support for victims of sexual violence and rape.
In his keynote address, President Bio reflected on his 2018 campaign, during which he frequently moved with his baby daughter, signaling his commitment to the protection and empowerment of girls. He expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support, particularly from his wife. He declared that the era when women were seen as mere accessories is over, praising the African First Ladies’ commitment to advancing gender equality and narrowing the gender gap.
“This Campaign, spearheaded by Your Excellencies, holds significant importance for us in Sierra Leone. I, therefore, congratulate you all, particularly my dear wife, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, who has chosen education and girls’ empowerment as a primary tool to champion this campaign nationwide,” President Bio stated.
President Bio urged citizens to be vocal in ensuring the enforcement of laws prohibiting child marriage and stressed the importance of taking women’s issues seriously for national development. He highlighted Sierra Leone’s leadership in empowering girls through free quality education and scholarships for girls studying STEM courses, the declaration of a state of emergency on rape, the creation of a sexual offenses court, and the passing of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act.
In his closing remarks, President Bio officially launched the “WeAreEqual Campaign” and signed the Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill 2024 into law, marking a significant step toward gender equality and the protection of girls in Sierra Leone. This campaign aims to create a more inclusive society, ensuring that women and girls receive the respect, opportunities, and protection they rightfully deserve.
Goodwill messages were delivered by invited First Ladies and dignitaries, including the First Lady of the Republic of Cape Verde, the immediate past President of OAFLAD and the 3rd First Lady of Namibia, the Executive Secretary of OAFLAD, a representative of Liberia’s First Lady, and the Minister of Gender Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who represented the First Lady of Nigeria.
