On January 23, 2024, President Julius Maada Bio convened a high-level meeting at State House to discuss the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Care Bill 2024, which is currently under parliamentary consideration.

The meeting included government officials, religious and traditional leaders, women’s groups, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders.

In her presentation, Deputy Health Minister Jalikatu Mustapha made a strong case for the bill, highlighting its revisions to address concerns from the Inter-Religious Council and other groups. She emphasized President Bio’s unparalleled commitment to advancing women’s rights, noting that the bill aligns with international obligations, including the Maputo Protocol, and addresses critical issues such as teenage pregnancy and women’s reproductive health.

Hon. Abdulai Marray-Conteh provided an update on the bill’s legislative journey, noting that it has undergone two readings in Parliament and detailed scrutiny by the legislative committee. Of 18 position papers submitted during consultations, 16 were supportive. “We have incorporated many concerns raised by religious leaders, yet Parliament remains divided,” he said.

While the bill garnered strong support from women’s rights advocates and civil society groups, traditional and religious leaders voiced reservations. Paramount Chief Mima Kajue described the bill as “good” but lamented misinformation surrounding its provisions, calling for more public engagement. Bishop Akintayo Sam-Jolly expressed dissatisfaction with the consultation process and questioned data provided by the Ministry of Health, stating that only half of the religious community’s concerns had been addressed.

Women’s rights advocates delivered impassioned appeals for the bill’s passage. Dr. Aisha Fofana Ibrahim of the 50/50 Group called the bill “perfect” for safeguarding women’s rights and urged the President to ensure its enactment. Safiatu Tunis of the People’s Alliance for Reproductive Health Action (PARHA) cited the President’s public commitments to reducing maternal mortality, urging him to fulfill his promises.

Medical professionals also supported the bill, with Dr. Frances Wurie of the Sierra Leone Medical Women’s Association recounting harrowing experiences of teenage pregnancies and maternal deaths. “This bill will prevent unnecessary loss of life and provide critical reproductive health services,” she said.

In his keynote address, President Bio underscored the bill’s necessity, calling on Parliament to act decisively. “This is about saving lives. It is time for Parliament to rise above grandstanding and misinformation and pass this bill,” he declared. He defended provisions allowing safe termination in cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormalities, or threats to a mother’s life.

“Pray that your daughter is never a victim of rape or a medical complication requiring this bill’s protections,” the President said, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to life and women’s rights. He also reminded attendees of his leadership in abolishing the death penalty, framing the bill as a continuation of his pro-life values.

The President urged lawmakers, including the leader of government business and legislative committee chair present at the meeting, to finalize amendments and pass the bill. “We cannot achieve transformative change if we are timid,” he concluded.