By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening women’s participation in national development following a high-level Women’s Dialogue focused on the implementation of the landmark Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act.
Speaking after the engagement held on Friday, March 6, 2026, the Vice President said he had the privilege of spending the day with an extraordinary group of Sierra Leonean women who participated in meaningful discussions on both the challenges and opportunities surrounding the implementation of the GEWE Act.
The dialogue brought together women leaders, civil society representatives, and policy advocates who reflected on progress made in advancing women’s rights while also identifying gaps that must be addressed to ensure that the objectives of the GEWE Act translate into tangible outcomes for women across the country.
According to Dr. Juldeh Jalloh, the discussions will play an important role in shaping the upcoming National Women’s Conference, which is expected to serve as a platform for transforming ideas and policy recommendations into coordinated national action.
“Today I had the privilege of spending the day with an extraordinary group of Sierra Leonean women at our Women’s Dialogue, where they discussed the challenges and opportunities as we implement the landmark Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act,” the Vice President stated.
He explained that he deliberately chose to remain present for the entire dialogue session because it was important for him to listen directly to the perspectives and experiences of women who are actively engaged in advocating for gender equality.
“I stayed for the entire dialogue because it was important to listen. The women in the room spoke candidly about the progress we have made, the challenges that remain in translating policy into real change, and the practical steps needed to ensure that the promise of the GEWE Act is fully realized,” he said.
Dr. Juldeh Jalloh further noted that the government’s commitment to advancing women’s empowerment is firmly aligned with the vision of President Julius Maada Bio, whom he described as a strong advocate for inclusive and equitable development.
According to the Vice President, President Bio has consistently embraced the strategic role women play in driving national progress, particularly in areas such as governance, economic empowerment, education, and community leadership.
“In line with this vision, I thank every participant who contributed their voice, their experience, and their solutions today,” he added.
He emphasized that both the dialogue and the forthcoming National Women’s Conference will provide important opportunities for women to actively participate in shaping policies and development strategies that affect their lives and communities.
“The national conference will ensure the active participation of women in shaping the Sierra Leone they want. That is a future that the nation, men and women alike, should get behind,” the Vice President said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), Marcella Samba-Sesay, also participated in the high-level engagement and commended the Vice President for dedicating time to engage directly with women stakeholders.
Marcella Samba-Sesay noted that she was one of seven speakers invited to highlight policy priorities that could help improve the status of women in Sierra Leone.
She explained that the dialogue provided an important platform for civil society organizations and women leaders to share practical recommendations with government aimed at strengthening gender equality and improving opportunities for women in the country.
“We commend the Vice President for spending the day with women, engaging with us and identifying with women’s realities,” she said.
Observers say the dialogue represents another step in the government’s broader efforts to promote gender inclusion and ensure that the provisions of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act are effectively implemented across Sierra Leone.
The forthcoming National Women’s Conference is expected to bring together a wider cross-section of stakeholders to consolidate the recommendations emerging from the dialogue and develop concrete strategies for advancing women’s empowerment nationwide.
