Freetown: The Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs (MoGCA) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women's leadership, mentorship, and empowerment following a high-level strategic engagement with representatives of Trocaire and key stakeholders on Monday. The meeting focused on strengthening policies, frameworks, and collaborative interventions through the Network of Women Ministers and Parliamentarians (NEWMaP), a platform designed to promote women's participation in governance and decision-making in Sierra Leone. According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the Trocaire delegation included Women's Empowerment Programme Technical Lead Sudie Austina Sellu, GBV and Inclusion Technical Lead Maurice Pewa, Social Norms and Women's Empowerment Global Advisor Laurelle Mbaraza, and Business Development and Grant Manager Sara Leicester. Chairing the meeting, Sahr Kendema of the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration in promoting women's pol itical participation and empowerment nationwide. Providing an overview of NEWMaP, Coordinator of the NEWMaP Secretariat Hannah Lahai Robinson noted that the network is committed to strengthening women's rights and leadership through the implementation of its strategic plan, launched in August 2025. She stressed the importance of bringing together female ministers, parliamentarians, and councillors to improve coordination and collective advocacy on gender issues. Speaking on public engagement and visibility, NEWMaP representative Maxwella Sesay said the network has established media and online platforms to increase awareness of its work and expand public understanding of women's empowerment initiatives. She noted that the platforms will also help promote the Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE) Act and highlight the network's advocacy campaigns, achievements, and success stories. Also speaking at the meeting, Head of Programmes at Rainbo Initiative Bob Lamin highlighted the organization's continue d work in addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) nationwide. He said Rainbo Initiative has established operational one-stop centres in Bombali, Port Loko, and Kambia, where survivors can access comprehensive support services. He further underscored the role of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and community engagement initiatives in promoting women's rights and economic empowerment at the grassroots level. Giving historical context to the formation of NEWMaP, Sahr Kendema said the network was created to support government efforts to enhance women's capacity and participation in governance. He explained that the GEWE Act was introduced to address structural barriers affecting women and to promote gender equality across all sectors of society. Kendema also noted that the revitalization of the network, driven by the active participation of female parliamentarians and ministers, marks an important step forward. He described the newly developed strategic plan as a roadmap for strengthenin g the network's effectiveness and long-term impact, while commending MoGCA for its commitment to collaboration and support for the establishment of the NEWMaP Secretariat. Chief Director of MoGCA Charles Vandi praised Trocaire and CGG for their continued support in promoting women's advancement and leadership. He said the network required renewed energy and focus to respond to present-day challenges affecting women and reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to creating greater opportunities for women's empowerment. 'The struggle for womanhood is about freeing women from the social barriers that continue to hinder their progress. We are grateful to our partners, CGG and Trocaire, for championing the advancement of women across Sierra Leone,' Vandi said. In her keynote address, Minister of Gender and Children's Affairs Dr. Isata Mahoi welcomed the delegation and underscored the importance of reviving NEWMaP as a platform for stronger collaboration among women in leadership. 'There was a need to revive the orga nization,' Dr. Mahoi said. 'The vision is to create a platform where women in leadership can coordinate effectively and work collectively to strengthen women's representation and participation, particularly in decision-making positions.' Dr. Mahoi commended Trocaire for its continued support to women's leadership development, capacity-building programmes, and empowerment initiatives. She also called for deeper collaboration to ensure sustainable progress in addressing the challenges facing women in politics and public life. She highlighted persistent barriers such as gender discrimination, marginalization, limited support systems, and societal norms that continue to discourage women from actively participating in leadership. According to the Minister, NEWMaP provides an important platform for women to amplify their voices and expand their representation in governance and national affairs. Looking ahead, Dr. Mahoi identified key priority areas for future collaboration, including the organization of a nation al women's conference to assess the status of women in Sierra Leone, increased resources for Ministry programmes, stronger use of the media for advocacy and public education, and additional staffing support for the network. The meeting ended with a shared call for stronger partnerships, increased investment, and coordinated action to accelerate women's empowerment and expand women's participation in leadership and decision-making across Sierra Leone.