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Former Social Welfare Minister Dr Sylvia Blyden has recalled her past advocacy for the protection of the girl child, saying she was among the first public figures in Sierra Leone to openly discuss reforms within the Bondo Society and the protection of young girls.
In a statement, Dr Blyden said that during her time as a minister in the APC government, she appeared on television to speak about working with the Bondo Society to protect female children. She said the move attracted criticism from the then opposition SLPP, with some members condemning her for publicly discussing the issue.
She noted that years later, similar conversations are now taking place under the SLPP administration, particularly around protecting girls from harmful practices and abuse.
Dr Blyden also replayed a speech she delivered on the Day of the African Child, where she addressed two major concerns: the protection of girls within the Bondo Society and the misuse of social media to cause emotional and psychological harm to young girls.
In the speech, she acknowledged that the Bondo Society has positive cultural elements but called for open discussion on the forced initiation of girls. She said the government had worked with female leaders of the Bondo Society to ensure that no girl under the age of 18 would be subjected to the cutting of their anatomical parts without consent. She emphasised that protecting the rights and dignity of children should remain a national priority, noting that the issue had attracted international attention.
Dr Blyden further raised concerns about social media abuse, urging women across Sierra Leone to serve as mentors and role models while helping to protect girls from online harassment and emotional trauma.
She concluded by thanking development partners, including UNICEF, Plan International and Save the Children, for supporting child protection efforts in Sierra Leone.
