The Child Welfare Society-Sierra Leone (CWS-SL) has called on the Government of Sierra Leone to fully implement and effectively monitor laws, policies and regulations aimed at protecting women and girls across the country.
The organization said while Sierra Leone has enacted a number of landmark gender and child-protection laws and policies in recent years, their effectiveness will depend largely on proper implementation, monitoring and public awareness.
Among the key legal and policy measures highlighted by CWS-SL are the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act of 2022, the Customary Land Rights Act and Devolution of Estates Act of 2022, the amended Sexual Offences Act of 2019, the Basic and Senior Secondary Education Act of 2023, the Radical Inclusion Policy of 2021, the National Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy of 2020, and the establishment and upgrading of the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs.
The organization also referenced the Gender Accountability Framework introduced in 2026 and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2024.
CWS-SL, an advocacy, non-governmental and non-profit organization working for the welfare and protection of vulnerable children, commended President Julius Maada Bio and the Government for what it described as significant legislative and policy reforms designed to promote gender equality and create safer communities for women and girls.
However, the organization stressed that legislation alone cannot guarantee the rights and protection of women and girls unless the laws are fully implemented and monitored.
CWS-SL has therefore urged the government to immediately enforce all laws relating to children and their safety, while ensuring that the best interests of the child remain a priority.
The organization further called for increased support to the relevant government ministries and institutions responsible for implementing and monitoring gender and child-protection laws.
It also urged the government to work closely with civil society organizations and development partners to increase public awareness of the objectives and key provisions of the various laws across the country.
According to CWS-SL, Inter-Religious Councils should also play a greater role in educating their congregations about the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2024 and other laws designed to protect children.
The organization called for stronger measures to address gender discrimination at both national and community levels, noting that discriminatory practices continue to expose girls and women to various forms of abuse and vulnerability.
CWS-SL also recommended strengthening the capacity of the Family Support Unit (FSU) of the Sierra Leone Police through increased logistics, personnel training and a dedicated budget to enable it to effectively carry out its responsibilities.
The organization further called for improved child safeguarding mechanisms in schools and other public spaces, as well as the recruitment and deployment of more social workers at chiefdom level to support the prevention of child marriage and other harmful traditional practices affecting girls.
It also urged the government and relevant stakeholders to intensify public education on the National Referral Protocol (NRP) and existing mechanisms for reporting violations against children and other human rights abuses.
CWS-SL emphasized that sustained public education and community participation are essential to ensuring ownership and effective implementation of the country’s child and gender protection laws.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the rights and welfare of vulnerable children and women, particularly those in marginalized communities.
It said it remains guided by its vision of building “a Sierra Leone where the culture of human rights and welfare of children prevail and people respect the laws and regulations that promote, protect and guarantee massive investment in the welfare of children and women, especially those most vulnerable.”
