By Fatima Kpaka
New York, USA — September 25, 2025: Sierra Leone’s President Dr Julius Maada Bio delivered a compelling address at the High-Level Event on Pregnancy, Children Born, and Sexual Violence in Conflict, urging the international community to take decisive action to protect survivors and their children.
The event, convened by the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Maada Bio, and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, brought global attention to the enduring trauma faced by women and girls who become pregnant through conflict-related sexual violence—and the stigma endured by the children born of such circumstances.
President Bio reflected on Sierra Leone’s own history, recalling that during the country’s decade-long civil war, an estimated 20,000 children were born of rape, with girls as young as 12 forced into sexual slavery.
“These memories compel us to act,” he declared.
He outlined Sierra Leone’s national response, including:
- The declaration of sexual and gender-based violence as a national emergency
- Establishment of a dedicated Sexual Offences Court
- Expansion of One-Stop Centres for survivors
- Legal protections against early marriage
President Bio emphasized Sierra Leone’s leadership in advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. In 2022, the country partnered with Japan to introduce the first UN resolution focused on remedies for victims of sexual violence in conflict—affirming their rights to justice, reparations, and rehabilitation.
He endorsed the UN Secretary-General’s recommendations, calling for:
- Survivor-centred services
- Legal recognition and nationality for children born of rape
- Inclusion of survivors in peacebuilding processes
- Adequate funding for reparations and reintegration
“Our shared humanity requires us to act now,” President Bio concluded. “Let this event serve as a turning point where our words are matched with concrete commitments. We must build a world where no woman’s body is used as a battlefield, and where every child enjoys dignity, rights, and hope.”
The event also featured powerful statements from:
- Madam Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone
- Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, First Lady of the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Pramila Patten, UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict
- Madam Isha Sesay, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and event moderator, who presented the Global Declaration of Principles on the Rights of Children Born of Conflict-Related Rape