By: Joseph Momoh, Reporter
The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has launched a comprehensive awareness campaign on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and its impact on the tourism and creative industries. The event was held under the global theme “Unite to End Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Girls,” as part of the ongoing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, led by the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs.
Chaired by Reverend Kwame Yankson, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, the campaign emphasized the need for a collective national effort to combat GBV. Reverend Yankson highlighted the importance of collaboration among government ministries, agencies, and civil society to address this pervasive issue.
Madam Goodie Sowonie, Director of Gender at the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, provided an overview of the global 16 Days of Activism, tracing its origins to 1991 when the Center for Women’s Global Leadership convened the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute. She outlined key government strategies addressing GBV, including the Domestic Violence Act of 2007, the Sexual Offences Act of 2012, and the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy of 2020. Madam Sowonie noted significant achievements, such as the establishment of One-Stop Centers across all 14 districts and the government-initiated “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign, while calling for enhanced partnerships to strengthen prevention and reporting mechanisms.
In her keynote address, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Nabeela Farida Tunis reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to creating safe, inclusive spaces within the tourism sector, where women make up 60% of the workforce. She acknowledged the challenges women face in the industry, including sexual harassment and job insecurity, which leave them vulnerable to exploitation.
Minister Tunis announced the establishment of a Women in Tourism Desk and Secretariat to address gender-related challenges and highlighted the Ministry’s empowerment training for over 800 women in partnership with organizations like Madam Wokie.
Mr. John Donald Sandy, Interim Chairman of the National Tourist Board Steering Committee, pledged support for the campaign, aligning it with Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality. He emphasized the need for safe working environments for women in tourism.
Ibrahim Frank Kargbo, Senior Program Manager of Rainbo Initiative, praised the government’s commitment to addressing GBV, revealing that the initiative supported 2,339 survivors in 2024, with 99% of cases involving women and girls. He urged the Ministry to work with the Sierra Leone Police to monitor tourist sites and entertainment centers.
The event concluded with a powerful drama performance by the Sierra Leone Centre of the International Theater Institute (ITI), highlighting the need for continuous awareness campaigns to eliminate GBV across all sectors. The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs’ campaign is part of a national effort to create safer environments for women in tourism and empower them to contribute meaningfully to Sierra Leone’s economic growth.