The Chief Minister of Sierra Leone, alongside the Inspector General of Police, the Ministers of Information and Civic Education, Internal Affairs, Attorney General and Minister of Justice and other dignitaries on Tuesday 25th November 2025 participated in the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the National Cybersecurity and Awareness Campaign at the Freetown International Conference Center, Aberdeen in Freetown.
The event was organized by the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs in collaboration with the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre and partners on the theme, “Unite! End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.”
The campaign theme, “Click Wise, Stay Safe,” aims to promote safe and responsible digital living while focusing on empowering women and girls and combating online harassment.
In his keynote speech, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh apologized to all victims of online harassment and bullying, articulated that no nation can prosper without prioritizing women and girls, that technology has provided opportunities as well as risks, that people’s privacy has been violated and silenced, disclosed that government rejects all forms of violence against women and girls whose lives and dignity are important for national development and maintained that they must be given the opportunity to reach their greatest potentials.
According to the Chief Minister, government has enacted several progressive laws to end violence against women, that Sierra Leone has made astronomical progress citing the country’s rating as the 10th most African country in the cyber security stage in just five years adding that Sierra Leone has also improved from 72%-98% in terms of mobile phone coverage, noting that human beings should make better technology not the other way round and urged all to work hard to make the world perfect.
Government officials, the UN family and other stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to address digital bullying and harassment faced by women and girls, highlighting the importance of protecting their dignity and future.
The initiative marks a significant step towards raising awareness and fostering a safer online environment for all.
The Minister of Information, Mr. Chernor C. Bah, who chaired the event, underscored that cyber security is a human rights and security issue and assured that government is doing all in its power to put strategies in place to protect the digital space.
The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi articulated that the event is not only for women and girls to raise their voices but to reaffirm their commitment to end the menace, a call to action and to remind all that now is the time to end voice against women and girls in the digital space.
She also observed that the theme resonates with the determination with the various laws that have been enacted to protect women and girls like the Child’s Right Act 2025, the Model Sexual Offences Court, the One Stop Centres nationwide, establishment of Safe Spaces, the 116 Hotline, the Hands Off Our Girls Campaign but noted that laws alone are not enough to end the danger.
The Minister also highlighted the One Stop Centre to access SGBV data, harmonization of laws to prevent and respond to GBV, research and review of GBV laws by the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with various stakeholders but lamented that their greatest challenges are the lack of a forensic laboratory, inadequate Safe Homes and affirmed that ending violence against women and girls is the responsibility of all Sierra Leoneans.
She further appealed to all to join the campaign, support survivors with compassion and report perpetrators.
The Inspector-General of Police, William Fayia Sellu called for unity in action, that women and girls must freely express themselves online without fear or favour noting that GBV remains a global concern and the new platform for harm that affects the mental health of victims underlining that girls are the most vulnerable.
Other speakers who made similar statements reiterated that technology should be used as a tool for empowerment not harassment, that the digital space is the new frontier for abuse and that digital violence, cyber bullying and stocking, identity theft and online harassment are growing at an alarming rate.
Highlights of the well-attended event were the overview of the National Cybersecuriy and Awareness Campaign by Mr. Victor Sesay, the Coordinator, who disclosed that the office was established in 2016 to among others promote nationwide awareness, support networks and computer systems, develop guidelines as well as protect the digital infrastructure pointing out the gaps, risks, opportunities and the three legal instruments.
The various speakers also informed that they have conducted capacity building trainings for the judiciary and security sector, ratified the Data Protection Act and reiterated their commitment to protect the digital space and online abuse against women and girls revealing that the country has made strides to end online harassment.
Rendering of the vote of thanks by the Deputy Minister of Gender, Mr. Boakai Hindowa Bindi, the panel discussion, signing of the commitment pledge, singing of the National Anthem and Pledge and the question and answer session climaxed the ceremony.
