The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Maada Bio, today reaffirmed her commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment in the security sector by launching the Elsie Initiative Fund for uniformed women in peacekeeping operations.
The launch, held in collaboration with the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, UN Women, and key development partners, marks a significant step toward inclusive participation in peacekeeping efforts.
Speaking at the event, the First Lady underscored the importance of ensuring that women in uniform are not only visible but are also meaningfully involved in decision-making roles within the armed forces and peacekeeping missions.
“The theme, Repositioned to Meaningfully Participate and Lead in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces and Support Peacekeeping Operations, resonated deeply with me,” said Mrs. Bio.
“It reminded me of the courage of young survivors whose stories inspired my Hands Off Our Girls campaign — a mission that has taken me from Freetown to Addis Ababa and New York.”
The Elsie Initiative Fund, named in honor of Canada’s first female foreign minister, Elsie MacGill, aims to support and increase the meaningful participation of uniformed women in United Nations peace operations.
Reflecting on Sierra Leone’s past — particularly the impact of the civil war — the First Lady highlighted the symbolic transformation of the country from being a recipient of peacekeeping support to becoming a contributor to global peace.
“Today, we’ve transformed from being protected to becoming peacekeepers ourselves,” she noted.
Mrs. Bio emphasized that inclusion in peacekeeping is not a privilege, but a right, and outlined key pillars of the project, including:
- Targeted recruitment and promotion of female personnel,
- Transparent mentorship programs,
- Institutional reforms in mission planning and delegation,
- Scholarships and training opportunities for female officers.
“This initiative ensures no girl screams from wearing a uniform, and no one is silenced or marginalized because of gender or cultural beliefs,” she stated.
She also issued a rallying call to commanders and international partners to create space for women to thrive, asserting, “Let’s work together as partners.”
Concluding her remarks with a direct message to Sierra Leonean women, the First Lady declared: “The time for leadership is now.”
The Elsie Initiative Fund is expected to catalyze lasting change within Sierra Leone’s security sector and further enhance the country’s contributions to international peace and security through gender-balanced deployments.
Source; www.leakyghana.com
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