Presidential Adviser Isata Jabbie Kabbah Calls for Stronger Community Action to Protect Girls
Kanja Sesay Presidential Adviser on Gender Affairs, Madam Isata Jabbie Kabbah, has called on traditional leaders, religious authorities, parents and communities across Sierra Leone to strengthen efforts to protect girls, promote their education and address gender-based violence.
She made the call during the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s Civic Day Series in Koinadugu District on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Madam Kabbah emphasised that educating girls benefits not only individual families but also communities and the country as a whole. She urged parents and community stakeholders to take greater responsibility for creating safe environments where girls can grow, learn and pursue their ambitions.
Addressing the role of traditional authorities in tackling gender-based violence, Madam Kabbah called for the proper enforcement of the law against perpetrators of rape and physical abuse.
“Let the law deal with that. Properly,” she stressed.
She urged Paramount Chiefs and other traditional leaders not to protect perpetrators or resolve serious cases of abuse through informal community settlements.
She also called on religious leaders to use their influence and platforms to speak out against rape, physical violence and child marriage.
According to her, community leaders have a responsibility to shape public attitudes, raise awareness and ensure that people understand their obligations under the law.
Madam Kabbah highlighted the importance of educating girls, noting that investment in their education contributes to stronger families, communities and national development.
She encouraged parents to support girls’ education from an early age and ensure that children, particularly young girls, grow up in safe and supportive environments.
She maintained that educating girls would help prepare a generation capable of contributing to the country in different professional fields and leadership positions.
On women’s participation in governance, Madam Kabbah highlighted the importance of policies and legislative measures designed to increase women’s representation in decision-making institutions.
She referenced the 30 per cent quota for women’s representation and called for sustained commitment to ensuring that women have meaningful opportunities to participate in leadership.
She further argued that women’s representation should not be limited by political party affiliations, stressing the need to give capable women opportunities to represent their communities and contribute to national development.
Madam Kabbah also called for laws and policies relating to women and girls to be translated into local languages so that communities can better understand their rights and responsibilities.
She said public education was essential to ensuring that legal protections were understood beyond formal institutions and became part of everyday community awareness.
Emphasising her commitment to advancing gender-related issues, she told the audience: “This now is my responsibility. This is my task.”
She urged traditional and religious leaders to support efforts to educate communities and protect vulnerable groups.
Madam Kabbah’s engagement formed part of the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s Civic Day Series in Koinadugu District.
The initiative provides a platform for government officials and citizens to discuss national issues, promote civic awareness and encourage public participation in governance.
Her message centred on the need for stronger cooperation among government institutions, traditional authorities, religious leaders, parents and communities to protect girls, improve access to education and advance women’s participation in national development.