The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK), in partnership with the Centre for Strategy and Parliamentary Studies (CSPS) and the Parliament of Sierra Leone, has commenced a three-day parliamentary workshop to strengthen legislative action and cooperation in addressing violence against women and girls.
The workshop opened on Monday, 19 October 2026, at Committee Room One of the Parliament Building in Freetown, bringing together members of Sierra Leone’s Parliamentary Female Caucus and a delegation of UK parliamentarians.
Speaking on behalf of Parliament, Director-General Madam Finda Findosia Fraser welcomed the visiting delegation and reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to gender equality and the protection of women’s and girls’ rights.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Female Caucus and the Health Committee, Hon. Wuyatta Bernadette Songa, highlighted the challenges survivors face when reporting abuse. She explained that fear, intimidation, social stigma and concerns about family stability and children’s welfare often prevent victims from reporting cases.
She called for a safe and supportive environment where survivors can report abuse without fear of discrimination or retaliation and receive the protection and assistance they need.
Hon. Songa outlined key laws enacted to address sexual and gender-based violence in Sierra Leone, including the Sexual Offences Act of 2012, amended in 2019; the Child Rights Act of 2007; the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act of 2022; and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2024.
While acknowledging these legislative measures and the establishment of the Sexual Offences Model Court, she stressed the need for stronger implementation and enforcement. She noted that threats and pressure from family members and communities sometimes cause survivors to withdraw their cases, making prosecution more difficult.
She urged parliamentarians to strengthen support for survivors, promote accountability and take the discussions to their constituencies to raise awareness and encourage collective action against violence.
CPA UK Programme Manager and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Thematic Lead, Josephine Jengo-Cowell, outlined the workshop’s main themes and expected outcomes.
The sessions will examine public health approaches to gender-based violence, constituency engagement, data collection, legislative scrutiny and cross-party collaboration. Participants will also explore ways to strengthen parliamentary oversight, engage relevant stakeholders and develop evidence-based policies that respond to survivors’ needs.
The UK delegation has also engaged the Clerk of Parliament in discussions on Sierra Leone’s legislative framework for women and children. The programme also includes engagement with the Minister of Gender on tracking sexual and gender-based violence.
Further discussions will focus on the role of civil society organisations in data collection and policy development, cooperation within the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus and post-legislative scrutiny of gender equality and women’s empowerment laws.
CPA UK will engage civil society organisations, survivor advocates, experts and other stakeholders to bring practical experiences and perspectives into the discussions and help identify effective approaches to preventing violence against women and girls.
The workshop builds on longstanding cooperation between CPA UK and the Parliament of Sierra Leone on women’s political participation, gender equality and the prevention of violence against women and girls.
In 2023, a Sierra Leonean delegation, including members of the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, participated in a United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-funded project focused on strengthening parliamentary oversight and effectiveness in tackling gender-based violence and modern slavery. Subsequent workshops were held in Kenya in 2023 and Westminster in 2024, where participating parliamentarians committed to strengthening scrutiny of relevant legislation.
The current engagement aims to build on those commitments by improving parliamentarians’ understanding of sexual and gender-based violence and the challenges affecting women and girls in their constituencies. It also seeks to support the development of a Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Action Plan in collaboration with the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus and strengthen working relationships among Sierra Leonean and UK parliamentarians, experts and other stakeholders.
The Sierra Leonean delegation comprises members of the Parliamentary Female Caucus, including Hon. Wuyatta Songa, Hon. Veronica K. Sesay, Hon. Neneh Lebbie, Hon. Emilia Lolloh Tongi, Hon. Catherine Z. Tarawally, Hon. Marie Bangura, Hon. Alice Kumbabeg, Hon. Cecilia M. Bangura, Hon. Fatmata Soukenah, Hon. Juliana Fatorna, Hon. Rebecca Y. Kamara, Hon. Memunatu Jalloh, Hon. Mariama Zombo, Hon. Rugiatu Kamara, Hon. Beatrice Lengley, Hon. Rugiatu Rosy Kanu, Hon. Mabinty Alice T. Bangura, Hon. Fatmata Bintu Bockarie, Hon. Princess K. Daramy, Hon. Beatrice Kangbai, Hon. Kumba Isata Felicia Welphilipis, Hon. Adama Conteh, Hon. Alice Korna Sandi and Hon. Umu Hawa Conteh.
The UK delegation includes Kate Osamor MP, the Rt Hon. the Baroness Elizabeth Sugg, Sarah Champion MP, Kim Johnson MP, Josephine Jengo-Cowell, Alysia Boadi and Seun Okediran.
The three-day workshop provides an opportunity for both parliamentary institutions to exchange experiences, strengthen legislative oversight and identify practical measures to improve the implementation of existing laws and protection for women and girls affected by violence.
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