By: Amara Kargbo

The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and UNICEF, held a validation meeting in Sierra Leone to review the combined sixth and seventh periodic reports for the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Alan C.E Logan, Acting Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, opened the session, on the 11th April 2025 at the CCSL Hall, King Harman Road underscoring the importance of including all stakeholder perspectives in these reports developed with input from non-governmental organizations focused on child rights.

The reports, enhanced by contributions from the Commission, will be submitted to Parliament after endorsements from key authorities, including the Minister of Gender and Children Affairs. They will incorporate recommendations from the Committee’s observations on the combined third to fifth periodic reports adopted on November 1, 2016.

UNICEF Country Representative, Rudolf Schwenk reaffirmed UNICEF’s support for Sierra Leone in fulfilling its obligations under the Convention, stressing the need for a unified approach to reinforce broader human rights commitments. He highlighted UNICEF’s role in providing technical assistance and amplifying children’s voices in decision-making processes.

Morison Bockarie, Vice President of the Children’s Forum Network, called for urgent action to protect children’s rights in Sierra Leone, noting ongoing issues like limited access to education and child labor. He encouraged stakeholders to ensure recommendations lead to concrete actions, advocating for safer spaces for children.

Madam Patricia Narsu Ndanema, Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, emphasized the Commission’s role in guiding the government in preparing periodic reports required by international human rights treaties. She stressed the importance of monitoring compliance with these instruments to protect and empower every child in Sierra Leone.

The Acting Director General reiterated Sierra Leone’s commitment to children’s rights, marking the validation as a crucial step for submitting the periodic reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva. He acknowledged the government’s responsibility to fulfill children’s rights as a core part of its human rights framework, emphasizing the allocation of 14% of the national budget to social sectors for education and health services.

The Director General congratulated all stakeholders for their efforts to enhance Sierra Leone’s human rights record and expressed confidence in the ongoing commitment to improve children’s lives.

Dr. Isata Mahoi, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, described the workshop as timely for preparing the reports in line with the UN committee’s observations, outlining progress and areas for improvement. She highlighted the report’s role in monitoring compliance with UN principles for children’s rights and its importance in legal reforms and aligning national policies with international standards.

The Minister praised the collaborative nature of the reporting process for national ownership and urged all participants to prioritize children’s needs, as their futures depend on today’s decisions. She expressed gratitude to UNICEF and partners for their support and emphasized the need for urgent action on children’s issues.