Strengthening Women’s Rights Through Data-Driven Advocacy
Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), with support from UN Women and the Government of Ireland, conducted a Training of Trainers session for women’s groups, women-serving agencies, and civil society organizations to enhance the monitoring and evaluation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act 2022 and the Customary Land Rights (CLR) Act 2022. While these laws are a milestone for women’s rights, their impact depends on effective implementation. To ensure accountability and enforcement, participants were introduced to Kobo Collect, a digital tool for real-time data collection, tracking progress, and strengthening advocacy through evidence-based reporting. Additionally, the training was guided by A Simple Guide to Understanding the Customary Land Rights Act, 2022 for Women in Sierra Leone and the Civic Education Training Manual on the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, 2022, which provided participants with practical knowledge and strategies for implementation.
The training also addressed cultural and systemic barriers that hinder women from fully benefiting from these laws. Civil Society Representative Mohamed B. Koroma stressed the need for balanced discussions, noting that while women face exploitation, empowerment should be inclusive and fair. The importance of these laws was reinforced by personal testimonies, such as Susan Conteh from the Widows Network Sierra Leone, who reclaimed her land after her husband’s family illegally sold it. Stories like hers highlight why monitoring and advocacy are essential.
Discrimination against women in leadership was another key issue. Christana Hallowell from the Forum for Child Welfare in Moyamba District shared the story of a woman in her community who faced marginalization after years of advocating for women’s and children’s rights. When she decided to enter politics, she was met with resistance, including threats that young people in the community would not vote for her. This reflects the systemic barriers that prevent women from accessing decision-making spaces. Madam Florence Sesay of Media Matters for Women Sierra Leone emphasized that women must be included in chieftaincy structures, as many issues affecting them are decided at that level.
By equipping women with digital tools for monitoring and ensuring their voices are heard in governance, CGG is taking a critical step toward translating policy into real, measurable change. To achieve full gender equality, all stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society, and traditional leaders must work together to enforce these laws and ensure no woman is left behind.