Freetown, Sierra Leone — Alimatu Dimonekene (M.B.E.), a leading global women’s rights advocate and founder of ‘A Girl At A Time’, has praised President Julius Maada Bio’s administration for the landmark passage of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, calling it one of the most progressive laws she has ever seen.
“I have never seen such a progressive law like the GEWE Act. I want to commend the government,” Dimonekene stated.
Speaking on Truth Media’s ‘Truth Morning Devotion’, Dimonekene emphasized the critical role of Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora in shaping national development.
“We in the diaspora have a role to play in the development of the nation,” she said.
However, her praise was tempered by disappointment over Parliament’s handling of the Child Rights Act, which she believes was undermined by cultural resistance.
“Where did we go wrong in the Child Rights Act? Parliamentarians felt it went against their culture,” she lamented. “If we want to solve our societal issues, our MPs need to listen to the people.”
Dimonekene also delivered a powerful critique of the continued practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), urging leaders to confront the structural roots of gender inequality.
“No woman is free in Sierra Leone. That’s the honest truth,” she declared. “FGM is no longer relevant to the structure of the Sierra Leonean people.”
Her remarks add to growing calls for deeper legislative and cultural reform, as activists push for full implementation of the GEWE Act and stronger protections for children and women across the country.
