By: Aaron Bundu Lahai-Head of Media & Public Relations.
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The Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has commended the ECOWAS Commission for leading advocacy campaign on Gender-Based violence and other issues around child rights.
Vice President Jalloh made the disclosure during a courtesy call by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Gender and Social Affairs, Dr. Siga Fatima Jagne at his Tower Hill Office in Freetown on Monday 2nd August, 2021. Vice President Jalloh expressed appreciation to the ECOWAS delegation for leading an advocacy mission that is usually led by international bodies such as the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) despite challenges, especially when gender and child rights issues are paramount to the Administration of President Bio.
Vice President Jalloh explained that because Government of Sierra Leone realized the significance of gender and child rights issues, government instituted firm actions to address them. The firm actions, the Honourable Vice President stated, include declaring State of Emergency on Child Sexual Abuse, and introducing reforms and institutions to address the issues.
Vice President Jalloh named legislative reform such as the special Magistrate Court with the aim of fast tracking sexual offense cases, reinforcing the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone Police, the one-stop center for sexual violence survivors that provide psychosocial support and treatment as some of the progress made by the New Direction Government.
Dr. Juldeh Jalloh informed the delegation about the increased vigilance in addressing issues surrounding gender and child rights. Vice President Jalloh added that President Bio agenda on Human Capital Development also firmly seeks to address issues of such nature. The Vice President concluded by strengthening government commitment to advancing the cause of women and children, and continues to fight against trafficking of persons.
Commissioner Jagne told the Vice President that her visit was part of the Integrated In-Country High-Level Advocacy on the implementation of the ECOWAS International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Trafficking In-Persons (TIP), Gender-Based Violence, and Child Rights in the context of Covid-19 pandemic.
The ECOWAS delegation was introduced to the Vice President by the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Francis KaiKai.
