Justice Minister Sesay Engages Stakeholders on Strengthening Sierra Leone’s SGBV Response System

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay Esq., on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, engaged key stakeholders to discuss the findings of the National Technical Monitoring Visit to One-Stop and Rainbo Centres across Sierra Leone, with a focus on strengthening the country’s response to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

The engagement, held on June 23, brought together institutions and partners involved in the SGBV response chain to review the monitoring report and identify measures aimed at improving access to justice and support services for survivors.

Speaking during the meeting, Sesay described the report as an important assessment that moves beyond assumptions and provides a clearer understanding of the realities facing survivors of gender-based violence in the country.

He said the findings highlight the need for stronger collaboration among institutions, emphasizing that ending sexual and gender-based violence cannot be achieved by a single institution but requires a coordinated and effective response from all actors involved.

The Justice Minister noted that access to justice should be viewed as a continuous process that begins when a survivor reports an incident and extends through investigation, medical examination, psychosocial support, legal review, prosecution and adjudication.

According to him, any breakdown within that process can affect outcomes for survivors and weaken public confidence in the justice system.

Sesay urged stakeholders to use the validation exercise to move beyond identifying challenges and instead focus on developing practical, achievable and sustainable reforms that can be implemented within existing institutional structures.

He said the engagements would contribute to strengthening the national response system and improving protections for women, girls, children and other vulnerable groups.

“Our ultimate goal remains a Sierra Leone where survivors are protected, offenders are held accountable, and justice is accessible to all,” Sesay stated.

The Attorney General also commended the Rainbo Initiative for its continued leadership and support in efforts to enhance the country’s response to sexual and gender-based violence.

The stakeholder engagement forms part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Justice and its partners to improve coordination among institutions and ensure more effective support and access to justice for survivors of SGBV across Sierra Leone.