Hundreds of Sierra Leoneans including members of the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party, (SLPP) converged at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to listen to and celebrate the good work of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

From Washington DC to Maryland, Boston to New Jersey, Sierra Leoneans have put their daily activities aside to witness this epoch-making event in which President Julius Maada Bio delivered a comprehensive statement on developments back home.
The government of Sierra Leone under the leadership of President Maada Bio has made tremendous contributions at both national and international levels.

Only recently, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution aimed at combating sexual assault and providing access to justice for victims of such abuse.

The adopted resolution on International Cooperation on Access to Justice for Survivors of Sexual Violence was initiated by Sierra Leone and co-facilitated by the Permanent Missions of Sierra Leone and Japan to the United Nations.

While addressing the United Nations, during the General Debate of the high-level week of the 76 sessions of the General Assembly, His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone called for ‘global solidarity on access to justice and remedies for victims and survivors of sexual violence. It will be recalled that President Bio who has been at the forefront to tackle the menace, declared rape a national emergency, punishable by severe penalties during the first year of his Presidency.

In making the plea to his peers, President Bio reaffirmed that he would direct His Permanent Representative to the United Nations, His Excellency Alhaji Fanday Turay ‘to sponsor a stand-alone resolution’ in the General Assembly on access to justice for survivors of sexual violence.

At the national level, the Government has not only enacted legislation but has gone the extra length to enforce the relevant laws as well as establish institutional mechanisms to concretize the New Direction Administration’s resolve to address impunity and protect women and girls against sexual violence and abuse.

On the issue of promoting education, the government of President Bio has been highly commended.
Sierra Leone has taken leadership by allocating huge resources to that sector. In four short years, a million more learners especially girls can now access free and quality education across Sierra Leone.
Learning outcomes are improving as are other indicators. But transforming the education system requires sustained focus for decades. The country intends to set measurable targets for skills training and technical education among many other reforms.

“The New York meeting today is first of its kind, we are here to show to the international community and the world as a whole that we are pleased with the leadership of President Maada Bio and his SLPP led administration,” Aminata Fofanah, a Sierra Leonean living in New jersey stated. Among many other issues, it is expected that the President spoke on the thriving democracy Sierra Leone continues to enjoy, the peace and security, gender equality, and much more.