UN Women Launches Major Strategy to Fight Violence Against Women in Sierra Leone
Aaron Parker UN Women, through the Spotlight Initiative, has commenced a three-day co-creation workshop in Freetown aimed at developing a comprehensive Women’s Movement Building Strategy to strengthen efforts to end violence against women and girls in Sierra Leone.
The workshop, which began on Wednesday, September 23, brings together key stakeholders and partners to share experiences, identify challenges and develop practical approaches to building a stronger and more coordinated women’s movement across the country.
Supported by the European Union and the United Nations in Sierra Leone, the strategy is expected to strengthen collective action, advocacy, coordination and accountability among organisations and stakeholders working to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls.
The initiative recognises that addressing violence against women and girls requires sustained collaboration and coordinated action among government institutions, civil society organisations, women’s rights groups, development partners and other stakeholders.
Over the three-day workshop, participants are expected to exchange ideas and explore innovative solutions aimed at strengthening collaboration, amplifying women’s voices and improving collective efforts to address violence against women and girls.
The process will contribute to the development of a strategy designed to support a stronger, more inclusive and accountable women’s movement capable of advocating for lasting change across Sierra Leone.
UN Women and its partners have emphasised the importance of turning collective voices into collective action as part of broader efforts to advance gender equality and create an environment where women and girls can live free from violence.
The workshop brings together stakeholders including the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, UN Women, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA and other partners under the Spotlight Initiative.
The Women’s Movement Building Strategy is expected to provide a framework for strengthening the coordination and effectiveness of women-led advocacy and action against violence against women and girls in Sierra Leone.