Women Empowerment: First Lady and WIMSAL Forge Vital Partnership
By: Christian Conteh
In a display of unwavering commitment to addressing pressing concerns afflicting women and girls across Sierra Leone, Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) embarked on a significant diplomatic visit to the esteemed office of Her Excellency, Madam Fatima Bio, the First Lady.
The objective of this diplomatic encounter was to foster an open discourse on pivotal issues affecting the lives of women and girls nationwide. During the meeting, Madam Eastina Taylor, the President of WIMSAL, eloquently outlined the organization’s core mission and fervently commended the groundbreaking endeavours undertaken by the First Lady’s Office. These commendable initiatives encompassed the flagship program “Hands Off Our Girls” along with several other impactful projects. Taylor underscored the critical need to amplify women’s voices, challenge societal stereotypes, and galvanize efforts to achieve true gender parity.
From its inception, WIMSAL has admirably spearheaded awareness campaigns and advocacy drives tackling an array of women-centric issues, including the harrowing instances of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and domestic abuse. Despite these noble pursuits, the organization has encountered hurdles in the form of institutional impediments, limited access to vital data and information, and the ongoing challenge of effectively reporting such issues.
Against this backdrop, Madam Taylor earnestly petitioned the First Lady for her invaluable support, primarily through strategic partnerships aimed at surmounting these obstacles. The ultimate goal was to create a secure environment within Sierra Leone where women and girls could flourish across diverse spheres of life, including active participation in governance.
In a warm and optimistic response, the First Lady lauded the indefatigable efforts of WIMSAL and graciously extended her eagerness to engage with the organization’s endeavours. She emphatically emphasized the paramount importance of capacity building and pledged her backing through scholarships and assorted initiatives.
While encouraging WIMSAL to harness its influential platform to address the multifaceted challenges faced by women, the First Lady highlighted President Bio’s steadfast commitment to women’s empowerment. Notably, she underscored the administration’s focus on rectifying child marriage policies this very year.
Undeniably, the First Lady’s convictions lay firmly in the potency of women’s voices, underscoring that augmenting the capabilities of women’s groups remains an indispensable facet of progress. Lauding WIMSAL’s admirable scholarship initiative, she committed to further enhancing members’ competencies.
Unifying her message, the First Lady fervently implored WIMSAL to transcend political discord and unite in a collective endeavour to amplify the plight of women and girls nationwide. Celebrating President Bio’s dedication to empowering women, she extolled the passage of the 30% gender quota legislation and the heightened representation of women within his administration.
Guided by an aspirational vision for a more prosperous future, the First Lady advised WIMSAL to stand resolute in their advocacy efforts, resolutely breaking free from political and societal constraints. In closing, she articulated her firm resolve to address the issue of child marriage within Sierra Leone’s policy framework this year. She urged WIMSAL to assume a pivotal role in this endeavour, harnessing their pens and microphones as instruments of change.
As the constructive exchange concluded, both parties expressed their unwavering enthusiasm for future collaborations and a mutual dedication to advancing the rights and well-being of women and girls throughout Sierra Leone.
