Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women and girls launched in Sierra Leone

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone - Spotlight Initiative, the United Nations (UN) high-impact initiative to end all forms of violence against women and girls, has officially launched in Sierra Leone.

The launch took place on Tuesday 8 July at the New Brookfields Hotel, bringing together representatives from the Government, including the Chief Minister, the Minister of Gender and Children's Affairs, and the Minister of Health; the European Union (EU); UN agencies; the Spotlight Initiative Secretariat; civil society organizations such as Rainbo Initiative; traditional leaders; the justice sector and other key development partners.

This launch builds on a landmark 15 million euro financing agreement signed on 11 April 2024 by Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura and the EU. The pivotal partnership represents a shared commitment to intensify national efforts in combating sexual and gender-based violence through coordinated funding, technical support and sustained political will.

A national crisis demands urgent action

Violence against women and girls remains deeply entrenched in Sierra Leone. An estimated 62 per cent of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical and/or sexual violence, according to the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey (SLDHS). Harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage, as well as intimate partner violence, continue to threaten the safety, dignity and economic empowerment of women and girls across the country.

Spotlight Initiative will implement a comprehensive, four-pillar approach to tackle violence against women and girls that addresses:

• Laws, policies and institutions, including strengthened legislation, enhanced institutional capacity and improved data systems to support justice
• Prevention, including nationwide behaviour-change campaigns and community education programmes that challenge harmful social norms and practices.
• Response services, such as expanded access to quality, survivor-centred health, legal, psychosocial and protection services.
• Women's movements, by funding grassroots women-led and youth-led organizations to lead advocacy and accountability efforts.

By adopting this proven framework, Sierra Leone aims to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 5, Gender Equality, and create lasting, transformative change.

Stakeholder commitment

At the launch, political leaders, development partners, civil society and community representatives recommitted to ending gender-based violence through policy reform, community mobilization and strong institutional responses.

In her welcome address, Minister of Gender and Children's Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, thanked the UN Resident Coordinator, EU, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN Women, the Executive Director of Rainbo Initiative, and the Minister of Finance for their support.

"I am one of the happiest today as we officially launch the Spotlight Initiative. This support from the European Union will go a long way to complement the implementation of my core mandate as the Minister responsible for women and children in this nation," Dr. Mahoi said.

The Executive Director of Rainbo Initiative, Daniel F. H Kettor, stated that the Initiative is more than just a response to gender-based violence, it is a bold declaration that violence is not acceptable. He disclosed that in 2024 alone, over 3,000 cases of sexual violence were recorded across seven Rainbo Centres, with survivors as young as 2 months and as old as 97 years seeking care, comfort and healing. “These numbers are not abstract; they represent real lives," said Mr. Ketter. "They are our daughters, mothers, sisters and wives."

Charge’ d'Affaires ai of the EU in Sierra Leone, Gerald Hatler, expressed pride that Sierra Leone is one of four African countries pioneering the second phase of Spotlight Initiative, alongside Uganda, Zambia and Liberia. "This selection underscores the recognition of Sierra Leone's commitment and the urgent need for action here," he noted. Mr. Hatler said that the EU firmly believes that gender equality cannot be achieved while violence against women persists.

UN Resident Coordinator, Seraphine Wakana, who is also Co-Chair of the Project Steering Committee, highlighted that violence against women and girls remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations of our time. One in three women and girls around the world will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

Ms. Wakana called on the Government to institutionalize gender-responsive budgeting, strengthen data systems and ensure that national frameworks are inclusive and rights-based. "At the community level, we will see an expansion of safe spaces, a scaling up of prevention programmes and more support to grassroots organizations, especially those led by women and girls."

Bilkish Kabia, a survivor of violence, shared her story to inspire hope and courage. After being assaulted by a male friend at the age of 16, she felt shattered and emotionally broken. "Today, I am an Outreach Intern, leading community efforts to raise awareness about the early warning signs of gender-based violence," said Ms. Kabia. "More powerfully, I am part of the Survivor Solidarity Movement at Rainbo Initiative — a survivor-led platform where those affected by sexual and gender-based violence unite, support each other and drive advocacy for our needs," she revealed.

Delivering the keynote address and officially launching the programme, the Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, who is also the Lead Co-Chair of the Project Steering Committee, described the launch as a remarkable testament to the strength of national and international partnerships.

He said that Sierra Leone’s inclusion in the second phase of Spotlight Initiative involved rigorous consultations with the UN, the EU, the Government and other stakeholders, including civil society.

"This engagement culminated in development of the Spotlight Initiative Framework, which received final approval from the European Union,” Dr. Sengeh stated. He also highlighted the Government’s achievements in the fight against gender-based violence, including the strengthening of the Sexual Offences Act, the establishment of One-Stop Centres, the 116 GBV Hotline, safe homes and a Sexual Offences Model Court. “We are seeing results. Survivors now have greater trust in the support systems, and more are stepping forward to seek justice,” he said.

About Spotlight Initiative

Launched globally in 2017 with an initial investment of 500 million euros from the European Union,  Spotlight Initiative is the world's largest targeted effort to end violence against women and girls. With the Initiative's support, more than 540 laws and policies have been signed or strengthened to end violence against women and girls, almost 3 million women and girls have accessed gender-based violence services, 8 million young people have participated in gender equality programmes, nearly 6 million men and boys have been educated on positive masculinity and non-violent conflict resolution, and the conviction rate for gender-based violence doubled across 13 Spotlight Initiative countries.