President Julius Maada Bio has implemented critical reforms to advance women’s rights in Sierra Leone, including the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act and the End Child Marriage Act. These policies promote gender equality by increasing female representation in government, combating gender-based violence (GBV), criminalizing child marriage, and prohibiting female genital mutilation. Furthermore, the President's declaration of a national emergency for rape and sexual violence influenced the reformation of the Sexual Offense Act. This reform provided improved access to justice for victim-survivors of GBV as specialized sexual violence courts were created. Another potentially positive legislative advance is the current debate whether to pass the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Act, which would decriminalize abortion. If passed, the Act could solidify Sierra Leone’s commitment to women’s health and autonomy, continuing the progress towards gender equality in the country.
Compiled from: “Sierra Leone’s President Leads Bold Reforms in Women’s Rights and Healthcare Transformation,” ACCESS Newswire, Jan. 29, 2025.