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First Lady of Sierra Leone, Dr Fatima Maada Bio, has reaffirmed her commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of girls, following a meeting with schoolgirls benefiting from the Hands Off Our Girls campaign and members of the Sierra Leone Police Family Support Unit.
The engagement, held at her Goderich Office in Freetown, brought together young beneficiaries of the campaign alongside officers from the Family Support Unit, a specialised police unit responsible for responding to cases involving sexual and gender-based violence, domestic violence, child abuse and child exploitation.
In a statement shared on her official social media platforms, First Lady Fatima Bio said the meeting provided an opportunity to renew collective efforts aimed at ending child marriage and ensuring that every girl in Sierra Leone is protected, empowered and given the opportunity to achieve her full potential.
She highlighted the importance of collaboration among government institutions, law enforcement agencies, communities, development partners and young people in advancing the protection of children and promoting safer environments for girls.
“The progress we have made is a testament to what can be achieved when government institutions, law enforcement, communities, development partners, and young people work together with a shared purpose,” she stated.
The First Lady, however, noted that despite progress made, more work remains necessary to address challenges affecting girls, including child marriage, sexual and gender-based violence and other forms of abuse.
The Hands Off Our Girls campaign, launched in December 2018 by Dr Fatima Maada Bio, focuses on advocating for the protection of women and girls, while addressing issues such as early marriage, sexual violence and the empowerment of young females.
The initiative has become one of the First Lady’s flagship programmes, receiving support from various stakeholders involved in child protection and gender advocacy. The campaign also aligns with broader national efforts to improve the welfare and safety of girls across Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone has in recent years strengthened legal measures against child marriage, with the enactment of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2024, which criminalises child marriage and seeks to provide greater protection for children.
The involvement of the Sierra Leone Police Family Support Unit in the engagement highlights the importance of law enforcement in preventing and responding to cases of violence and exploitation affecting children.
Dr Fatima Maada Bio maintained that protecting girls requires sustained commitment from all sectors of society. She encouraged continued cooperation to ensure that girls remain in school, pursue their ambitions and have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to Sierra Leone’s development.
The First Lady concluded by reiterating her determination to work with stakeholders to strengthen efforts against child marriage, sexual and gender-based violence and other practices that threaten the wellbeing and future of girls.
