By Fatima Kpaka
Sierra Leone – December 12, 2025: Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, His Lordship Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, has called for the enactment of laws and policies to strengthen the resilience of women and girls across Africa, stressing that inclusive legal frameworks are essential for building a prosperous and equitable society.
Speaking at the Freetown International Conference on the theme “Building Resilience for Women and Girls in the Face of Climate Change and Conflict”, Justice Kamanda highlighted that women are disproportionately affected by global challenges such as climate change and conflict. He noted that intensifying floods, droughts, storms, and rising temperatures are destroying homes and livelihoods, while conflict exposes women to violence, displacement, disrupted education, and reduced access to land and resources.
“These vulnerabilities continue to deepen not because women are weak, but because systems have failed to protect them,” Justice Kamanda stated, affirming that women and girls remain the bedrock of resilience within families and communities.
The First Lady of Sierra Leone and President of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), Her Excellency Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio, praised the Chief Justice’s leadership and reaffirmed her commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of women and girls.
She emphasized that the gathering was not symbolic but a collective effort to ignite change, unite voices, and build resilience for women and girls under one mission and one Africa.
Delivering the keynote address to officially launch the Building Resilience Campaign 2025–2027, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio stressed that resilience cannot be achieved without the active participation of women at all levels of society.
Identifying himself as a HeForShe champion, President Bio underscored that empowerment is the foundation of resilience.
“Africa cannot build resilience by excluding those who face the greatest storms,” he said, noting that women are catalysts for change.
Statements of commitment were also delivered by First Ladies from Senegal, Cape Verde, Liberia, Gabon, and Burundi, all pledging to launch similar resilience campaigns in their respective countries.
The conference reaffirmed Africa’s collective resolve to strengthen legal protections, policies, and partnerships that empower women and girls to withstand the challenges of climate change and conflict, ensuring they remain central to building resilient communities across the continent.