Zero Tolerance Day to FGM
Peer to Peer Education around harmful practices affecting women and girls.
This year we at A Girl At A Time Sierra Leone marked Zero Tolerance to FGM Day by hosting a youth led discussion event in Bo, Sierra Leone’s second largest city.
Hosted on the 11th February 2023 themed “Its Ok Let’s Talk” the discussions was facilitated by our Field Officer Mariama Alieu Swaray.
The main aim of the event was to engage and mobilize youths across Bo Town in discussing gender equality, gender-based violence, sexual reproductive health, female genital mutilation, and other form of harmful practices affecting young people in the Society.
10th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights in Sierra Leone
Our time at the 10th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights in Sierra Leone.
A Girl At A Time Sierra Leone joined other leading voices, including campaigners, activists and feminist groups nationally and internationally tackling violence against women and girls in Africa at the 10th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights - “Accelerating the Elimination of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Africa” in Freetown on 27th June 2022 - 1st July 2022.
Hosted by Purposeful in collaboration with civil society, the United Nations family, and feminist movements, in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone. Her Excellency the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Maada Bio, is the honorary Chief Patron of the conference. This conference is only possible with the funding and generosity of its co-conveners, collaborators and sponsors like WOW (Women of the World Foundation) and UN Spotlight Initiative .
Collective action towards the fight to end female genital mutilation/cutting in Africa.
The conference brought together over 1000 activists from over 40 countries from Africa and the world. Spanning over six days, including a Girls’ Summit and Youth Pre-Conference, the Conference included the following topics
Policy dialogues and key-notes
Thematic deep dives and learning journeys
Survivor led dialogues on emergent practice in work to end violence
Networking, consensus and coalition-building workshops
With an urgent advocacy funding from the Five Foundation we at A Girl At At Time Sierra Leone hosted an informative and interactive session at the event engaging with over 300 delegates at the conference including politicians, law enforcements, legal professionals, UN staff and youths from over 30 countries.
The interactive session designed to enable delegates working towards the elimination of the harmful practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) act as leaders and advocates in the safeguarding and protecting girls and women from harsh reality and health complications associated female genital mutilation/cutting affecting the sexual reproductive health and rights of women across the world.
Our EndFGM Campaign & Advocacy - Voices of Survivors was a success at the recent concluded event the 10th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights in Sierra Leone “Acceleration of the Elimination of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Africa.”
Our activities at the conference will be:
Supporting grassroots and advocates working with victims of all forms of violence including FGM/C gain access to appropriate and accurate information.
In making the voices of survivors and victims’ we shared best practice of unique personal stories of victims and survivors. This is to break the taboo and stigma often associated with women and girls sharing their experiences.
With our A Girl At A Time Sierra Leone staffs working tirelessly on the ground for weeks visiting different communities and gathering information we discover that youths were desperate for theories around social change. We shared with many workable solutions.
We also provide resources for all frontline advocates working within Sexual and Gender Based Violence field.
Our founder and director Alimatu Dimonekene whilst attending the conference also took time out of her busy schedule hosting the information booth to deliver training on the “Impact of Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse on Women and Girls“ to AdvocAid staff from Freetown, Makeni and Kenema and to grassroot professionals and service users held at the Aberdeen Women’s Centre.
Our Founder Alimatu Dimonekene a guest on the Charlie Mahoi Show on Tumac Radio in Freetown.
In ending female genital mutilation also known as cutting (FGM/C) it is crucial to engage directly with local communities in Sierra Leone.
Our founder Alimatu Dimonekene and with CEO of Hawa Trust Foundation -SL Hawa D Sesay whilst attending the 10th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights were guests at a community Radio station reaching over 20,000 audiences to talk end female genital mutilation also known as cutting in Sierra Leone in local language.
The Tumac Radio 88.3 based in Potty Junction, Eastern Freetown a very deprived community. Thanks to The Five Foundation for making this work possible.
Radio Presenter Charlie Mahoi a popular voice in the very community told his viewers that they must stop allowing politicians and Soweis the traditional female leaders that cut the girls and women access to their daughters. He also said politicians must not use the bodies of our daughters to gain political votes. He went on to say that “female genital mutilation destroys lives.” What they should do is build homes, hospitals & schools.
Following our one hour talk-show on female genital mutilation also known as cutting (FGM/C) on one of Eastern Freetown most popular radio we woke up to dozens of women saying they don’t want to cut their daughters. And a cutter told us “we will stop if the government tell us to stop. There is no one in the government telling us to stop.”
Exploring youth leadership from across.
Highlights of the event held on the 14th May 2021 which brought together youth leaders from seven countries from across Africa.
Exploring youth leadership from across Africa in addressing the impact of COVID19 on women and girls especially around sexual gender-based violence whilst also examining innovative solutions in the continent and adopting best practices.
As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on across the world how do we make Africa more resilient in responding to the needs of women and girls. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted every aspect of our lives.
Throughout the pandemic our work at A Girl At A Time in Sierra Leone we are aware the impact of the pandemic on young people to be very systemic and could be disproportionate. Ultimately threatening to reverse the hard-won gains in advancing gender equality and women's empowerment.
