By Davida Spaine-Solomon
Port Loko District, 1st December 2025- The second leg of the EU Bus Tour officially began today, 1st December, in Port Loko, setting the pace for a five-day journey across Sierra Leone centred on development, rights, and community empowerment. From Port Loko, the tour will proceed to Bonthe, Bo, Kenema, and the Gola Forest, carrying a renewed national call to end Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
This phase of the tour places a strong focus on tackling SGBV by engaging communities directly, raising awareness, and strengthening collaborative efforts to protect women and girls.
Port Loko Extends a Warm Welcome– The EU delegation paid courtesy visits to the Chief Administrator of the Port Loko District Council and the Port Loko City Council, where Mayor Alieu Badara Tarawallie warmly welcomed the team. He praised the importance of their mission.
“We are happy to receive the EU delegation,” he said. “The fight against sexual and gender-based violence is critical, and we must make conscious, collective efforts to keep our communities safe and free from abuse.”
He noted the district’s ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs and reflected on the city’s recent commitments:
“Port Loko has worked hard with the ministry to keep SGBV cases low. During the 16 Days of Activism, we reaffirmed our promise to reduce gender-based violence to the barest minimum.”
Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Isata Mahoi, expressed her gratitude to the Port Loko leadership and described the launch as a significant moment in the country’s push to end violence against women and girls.
“This event marks an important milestone,” she said. “We are taking baby steps, but these steps are leading us toward a future where women and girls are safe, secure, and protected.”
She highlighted Port Loko’s size and the weight of the challenges it faces:
“Port Loko is one of the largest districts in the country, and we continue to receive cases of sexual and gender-based violence. But we also see strong, coordinated efforts from the police, judiciary, and our chiefdom leaders.”
The minister applauded the district’s One-Stop Centre for SGBV survivors.
“The uninterrupted electricity at the centre is a blessing,” she said. “Facilities like this and our hospitals need reliable power. It also helps women running businesses.”
Despite the progress, she acknowledged persistent barriers.
“We still face challenges,” she said. “Compromises at the community level, pressures within families, and practices in schools all contribute to the problem. We are working to bridge these gaps.”
She also shared encouraging news regarding survivor support infrastructure:
“There is no safe home in Port Loko yet, but the people have already allocated land. With support from the EU and other partners, I am confident that this safe home will soon become a reality.”
EU Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Jacek Jankowski, emphasized that the fight against SGBV is a global human rights struggle.
“This is about human rights, respect for all people everywhere,” he said. “Gender-based violence is a global phenomenon, and survivors are in every country.” He stressed the importance of empowerment and accountability.
“Women and girls must know their rights,” he said. “When they say ‘no,’ it must mean no. And when that ‘no’ is not respected, there must be punishment.” Ambassador Jankowski also underscored the role of communities:
“Support must start with families and friends, and continue with authorities.”
He added that one vital step to ending the cycle of abuse is to “name and blame perpetrators,” calling on leaders across all sectors to speak boldly with one voice.
Irish Ambassador Patrick McManus stressed the importance of continuing conversations around SGBV.
“It is crucial that we keep shining a light on these issues,” he said. “Women and girls must be able to speak openly about sensitive topics. Silence only protects perpetrators.”
As the EU Bus Tour moves beyond Port Loko and into other districts, the message remains consistent and powerful: Sierra Leone cannot achieve true progress if its women and girls remain vulnerable. The momentum built in Port Loko has set a strong tone for the rest of the journey, a call for unity, accountability, and sustained action to end gender-based violence across the country.
