Gender Ministry Delegation Arrives in Freetown Out on South-South Exchange Visit With Sierra Leonean Counterparts

As part of efforts to strengthen joint regional advocacy for children, a high-power delegation led by the Deputy Minister for Children and Social Protection, Hon. Garmai Tokpah, has arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The South-South Exchange visit is organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MGCA) of Sierra Leone, with support from UNICEF Liberia and UNICEF Sierra Leone. It is part of the commitments made during the Day of the African Child (DAC) with the overall goal of strengthening child rights advocacy in both countries.

The South-South Exchange visit is scheduled to take place from September 3rd to September 7th, 2024 and is an important opportunity for the children of Liberia and Sierra Leone to engage in meaningful dialogue, share experiences, and learn from each other.

The Liberia National Children Representative Forum and the Children’s Forum Network of Sierra Leone will converge to discuss best practices, strategies, and lessons learned in child rights advocacy.

Supported by UNICEF, this initiative will foster collaboration between the two countries’ child advocacy groups and build partnerships for joint advocacy on regional child rights issues.

It also aligns with the DAC commitments to promote and protect children’s rights in Africa.

While in Freetown, the delegation is expected to pay a courtesy visit to the Liberian Ambassador to Sierra Leone, visit the office of the Deputy Minister of Children at the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs of Sierra Leone and hold an experience-sharing meeting with stakeholders, amongst other things.

The 18-men Liberian delegation departed Monrovia on September 3rd, 2024, and returns on September 7th, 2024.

According to a release, there will also be debriefing session to be organized for the delegates to share their experiences with the broader forum upon returning to Liberia.