Deputy Minister Bindi Highlights Major Gains in Advancing Women’s and Children’s Rights

Speaking at the just-concluded Civic Day Series in Bo District on October 14, 2025, the Deputy Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Hindowa Buakai Bindi, outlined key achievements made toward advancing the rights of women and children in Sierra Leone.

According to the Deputy Minister, President Julius Maada Bio’s administration has demonstrated a strong commitment to women’s empowerment. He highlighted several major milestones, including the enactment of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act and the approval of a new National Gender Policy.

To translate these policies into tangible results, Bindi announced that the government has established gender desks across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). “This is to ensure women participate meaningfully in decision-making processes and to specifically protect and promote women’s affairs within offices,” he stated.

In a historic milestone, Sierra Leone also recorded the appointment of its first-ever female army commander, Lieutenant Colonel Alice Koria Sesay — a testament to the heights women can attain under these progressive gender policies and laws.

Bindi further noted that the government’s commitment extends beyond women’s rights to the welfare of children. He highlighted the passage of the Child Rights Act 2024 and the introduction of a new Alternative Care Policy, which replaces traditional orphanages with temporary care centers. The goal, he explained, is to reintegrate children into their families and communities within six months.

These combined initiatives, he concluded, reflect a transformative shift toward equality, empowerment, and protection for women and children across Sierra Leone.