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Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Bio, has safely arrived in New York ahead of a high-level engagement at the United Nations, where she is set to present a landmark draft resolution calling for the official proclamation of an International Day to End Child Marriage.
Speaking upon her arrival in the United States, Dr Bio highlighted the momentous nature of the mission, calling it a defining step in safeguarding the rights, dignity, and futures of young girls around the world.
“Standing on the world stage, I am honoured to advance this landmark initiative as part of my unwavering commitment to protecting the rights, dignity, and futures of girls everywhere,” Dr Bio expressed. “This proposed resolution represents a defining milestone in our collective crusade to end child marriage and ensure that every girl has the opportunity to learn, grow, thrive, and fulfil her God-given potential.”
The upcoming address before the UN General Assembly builds on Dr. Bio’s long-standing global and national advocacy, including her signature “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign launched in Sierra Leone. Drawing deeply from her personal life experience as a survivor of early forced marriage attempts in her childhood, the First Lady’s crusade frames the elimination of child marriage not only as a critical human rights objective, but as an essential driver for public health, gender equality, and sustainable development worldwide.
If adopted by the UN General Assembly, the resolution will establish an annual International Day of Observance dedicated to accelerating global efforts, strengthening legislation, and mobilizing vital resources to eradicate child, early, and forced marriage.
The diplomatic initiative has already gained strong backing across the African continent and among international partner delegations, cementing Sierra Leone’s leadership role in shaping global policy for the protection of women and girls.
