The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment and child protection through the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act.
Speaking Tuesday at the Miatta Conference Centre during a weekly press conference hosted by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Dr. Mahoi addressed the theme: “State of the Family in Sierra Leone.” The event gathered key officials, including Information Minister Chernor Bah, Social Welfare Minister Melrose Karminty, and Ansumana Konneh of NaFDaA.
Dr. Mahoi highlighted the GEWE Act’s role in fostering inclusive family development and expanding opportunities for women and girls nationwide. She noted that girls in rural communities still face limited access to education, social programs, and personal development.
She called for family inclusivity and equal opportunities for all children, regardless of background or parental relationships. Accurate data on women in leadership positions, she added, is essential—because empowering women directly fuels national and family progress.
“When a woman is empowered, that is development for every family,” Dr. Mahoi said.
She also expressed concern over rising cases of early marriage, child neglect, socio-economic exploitation, and poor parenting, which weaken family structures and human capital development. Reaffirming the Ministry’s stance against harmful traditions, she pledged continued action to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), especially involving underaged girls. Community engagement and nationwide sensitization campaigns have been intensified to protect children.
Balancing child protection with cultural preservation, she asked: “How do we protect our children without abandoning our traditional values?”
Dr. Mahoi urged parents and guardians to prioritize responsible parenting and education to reduce child labor, neglect, and exploitation. The weekly briefing is part of the government’s ongoing public engagement on national development and social protection.
