By: Bampia James Bundu
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mohamed Rahman Swarray, has lavished praise on the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, for her bold initiative to take Sierra Leone’s campaign against child, early and forced marriage to the global stage.
The commendation follows the First Lady’s presentation of Sierra Leone’s proposed resolution before the United Nations General Assembly, seeking the establishment of an International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage.
Minister Swarray described the initiative as a demonstration of Sierra Leone’s determination to place the protection, empowerment and advancement of girls at the heart of the global agenda.
He said the proposed International Day would provide an important platform for strengthening international cooperation, mobilising resources and encouraging decisive action to protect girls from child, early and forced marriage, while ensuring that they have the opportunity to grow, learn and determine their own futures.
The Foreign Affairs Minister congratulated the First Lady for what he described as her trailblazing leadership in the fight for the rights and dignity of women and girls, both in Sierra Leone and around the world.
Reflecting on the First Lady’s previous international advocacy, Minister Swarray noted that Dr. Fatima Maada Bio had previously used the global platform of the United Nations to draw international attention to the plight of survivors of rape and other forms of sexual violence.
“She was once at the UN to ensure that rape victims and others had a moment when the world paused and reflected on their challenges. This time, she is returning with a big bang to campaign for and present a resolution aimed at ensuring that child marriage is eliminated around the world,” Minister Swarray said.
He further highlighted Sierra Leone’s progress in tackling child marriage through national legislation, noting that the country has already taken significant steps to protect girls from being forced into marriage.
“Sierra Leone has already taken a leap in that direction. Our Parliament has enacted legislation, and today every girl in Sierra Leone is free to grow up without being forced into marriage. Child marriage is now criminalised,” he affirmed.
Minister Swarray said Sierra Leone’s national experience demonstrates that meaningful change is possible when political commitment is matched with legislation, advocacy and sustained action.
He commended First Lady Fatima Bio for seeking to build on Sierra Leone’s national achievements by championing a global framework that would keep the issue of child, early and forced marriage on the international agenda.
The proposed International Day, he noted, would create an annual opportunity for governments, international organisations, civil society and development partners to renew their commitments, share best practices, mobilise resources and strengthen programmes aimed at protecting girls.
The initiative is being widely positioned as part of Sierra Leone’s broader international advocacy for women and girls and reflects the country’s growing efforts to translate its domestic policy commitments into global action.
As the United Nations considers the proposed resolution, Sierra Leone is calling for stronger international solidarity to ensure that every girl, regardless of where she lives, has the right to education, dignity, protection and the freedom to determine her own future.