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Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Hon. Dr. Isata Mahoi, delivered a commanding address at a Ministerial Breakfast Meeting hosted by the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, positioning Sierra Leone as a global leader in disability-inclusive youth empowerment, gender equality, and health governance.
With strategic clarity and emotional depth, Dr. Mahoi urged world leaders and development partners to invest boldly in young people with disabilities—particularly girls and young women who face multiple barriers due to gender, disability, and poverty. She reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to revising its Persons with Disabilities Act and scaling up inclusive education, vocational training, and leadership pathways that prioritize dignity, agency, and opportunity.
“Empowerment must be inclusive by design, not by exception,” she declared.
Dr. Mahoi also championed equal access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services, stressing that adolescent girls and young women with disabilities must not be left behind. She called for disability-sensitive, rights-based, and stigma-free policies that reflect community needs.
In a poignant appeal, she highlighted the rights of persons with albinism, urging for targeted interventions to tackle discrimination and improve access to services.
Her intervention, described as both heartfelt and strategic, laid out a blueprint for inclusive development anchored in the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals. She called for stronger multi-donor support and technical assistance to institutionalize disability-responsive planning across all sectors.
Dr. Mahoi’s leadership reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s vision of a future where every young person—regardless of gender, ability, or circumstance—can thrive, lead, and shape the world.
Source: ministry of gender and children's affairs
