Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs Hosts National Child Welfare Coordination Meeting.

The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs on Monday, 5th May 2025, held a high-level National Child Welfare Committee coordination meeting at its headquarters in Freetown, bringing together key government stakeholders and development partners to assess progress and strengthen collaboration on child protection across Sierra Leone.

The meeting brought together officials from the Ministry, including Deputy Chief Director Charles Vandi, Director of Children’s Affairs Mrs. Joyce B. Kamara, Director of Planning and Policy Ibrahim Kamara, and senior child protection officers Basiru Thullah and Laura Koroma. Also in attendance were representatives from major child protection organisations, including Save the Children, World Vision, YACAN, the National Commission for Children, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, and the Human Rights Commission.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Chief Director Charles Vandi emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to reviewing the Alternative Care Policy, which aligns with the proposed Child Rights Act (CRA) bill. He stressed that the policy addresses critical issues such as child abuse, sexual offences against children, and the reintegration of affected children into society. “We need to develop a national action plan to popularise the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and ensure community-level sensitisation, especially in rural areas,” Vandi urged.

Mrs. Joyce B. Kamara, Director of Children's Affairs, presented a summary report from her Directorate, highlighting key achievements and challenges. She noted ongoing efforts to monitor children in conflict with the law, provide alternative care for vulnerable children, and facilitate court monitoring to ensure justice for victims. Challenges such as prolonged juvenile proceedings and inadequate resources for transportation and care of abandoned children were raised. She called for greater collaboration and increased funding to scale up protection services nationwide.

Regional updates were shared by Assistant Directors from various districts. From Bo District, Martha Feika reported that the Ministry, in collaboration with SOS Children’s Village, has been implementing Family Strengthening Programmes (FSP) and has established a girls' shelter to support vulnerable children. She stressed the importance of radio discussions and community engagement in promoting child protection.

Victor Macarthy, Assistant Director in Kenema District, reported ten cases of sexual penetration in February, with four cases charged to court and six under active investigation. He proposed that orphanage homes be transitioned into Interim Care Centres (ICCS) and highlighted significant challenges, including a lack of safe homes, limited personnel, and inadequate funding.

From Bombali District, Assistant Director Gassimu Sesay reported persistent cases of child neglect and called for more staff and advocacy to strengthen child protection mechanisms in the region.

The meeting concluded with inputs from civil society actors and institutional representatives. The Family Support Unit (FSU) called for stronger support systems to address child welfare issues. At the same time, the Human Rights Commission emphasised the need to tackle child abuse, street begging, and displacement through the creation of more specialised institutions.

Participants agreed on the urgency of finalising the CRA bill and committed to implementing action plans that enhance legal protection and improve the welfare of children nationwide.

Kelvin Mark Kargbo

Email: mkelson367@gmail.com

Phone: ‪+232 78 104 964‬