Sierra Leone and Liberia Enhance Child Welfare Cooperation in High-Level Meeting

September 6, 2024

In a recent high-level meeting, Sierra Leone's Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs welcomed a delegation from Liberia, led by Deputy Minister of Gender and Social Protection, Mrs. Garmai S. Tokpah, to strengthen collaboration on child welfare initiatives.

The meeting saw participation from key stakeholders, including representatives from UNICEF and the National Children’s Forum Network of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister, Bindi Hindowa, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to child protection through the soon-to-be-enacted “Child Rights Act,” which is awaiting parliamentary approval.

Mrs. Tokpah shared Liberia’s challenges, including the presence of around 3,500 street children, and discussed efforts to address this issue through the “District Children Project,” a collaborative initiative with Save the Children and UNICEF aimed at rescuing and rehabilitating vulnerable children.

UNICEF representatives expressed interest in learning from Sierra Leone’s child welfare practices, and Mrs. Addie Valcarcel, Director of the National Commission for Children’s Advocacy and Outreach in Sierra Leone, emphasized the commission’s efforts to safeguard children's rights, including their access to education and protection from abuse.

The session concluded with a mutual commitment to ongoing cooperation, as Mrs. Tokpah invited further exchanges and continued collaboration between the two nations to improve child welfare.