The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Hon. Dr. Isata Mahoi, delivered a powerful address at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), reaffirming Sierra Leone’s unwavering commitment to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, three decades after their adoption.

Dr. Mahoi, representing Sierra Leone on the global stage, showcased the country’s bold reforms under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio. These include the declaration of a national emergency on sexual and gender-based violence, the enactment of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act 2022, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024, the Child Rights Act 2025, and other landmark legislations advancing women’s and children’s rights.

She stressed that education remains central to achieving gender equality, applauding the government’s inclusive learning agenda and the First Lady’s tireless advocacy for girls’ empowerment. “We must ensure that the gender agenda is visible not only in international capitals but in every village across Sierra Leone,” she urged.

Calling for stronger global solidarity, Dr. Mahoi pressed development partners to mobilize predictable and adequate funding for gender equality, particularly for Least Developed Countries and post-conflict nations. “Now that the normative framework has been built, it must be protected. We must move from commitment to implementation, from rhetoric to results,” she declared.

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She further emphasized the need to mainstream gender equality across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, underlining that gender is not only a standalone goal but a critical driver for achieving all other goals.

Her powerful intervention at UNGA 80 underscored Sierra Leone’s leadership and resilience in advancing women’s rights and social justice. As she concluded:

“It is not about talking, it is about action. It is about how we use our voices and our agency to transform lives.”

Source: ministry of gender and children's affairs