The Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director (DED) of UN Women Asa Regner and Regional Director for West and Central Africa (WCARO) of UN Women Oulimata Sarr arrived in Sierra Leone through Gendema on the south-eastern Liberia-Sierra Leone border today, 29 June 2022. The team aims to strengthen and re-affirm UN Women's support toward the advancement of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls with a view to furthering advocacy and partnership in line with the development agenda of Sierra Leone and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Braving the difficulties of traveling by road in Africa, ASG/DED Asa Regner‘s decision to travel by road from Liberia to Sierra Leone is her selfless expression and indication of the length she can go in addressing issues affecting women’s equality and empowerment.

Upon arrival, ASG/DED Asa Regner and team were received by the UN Women Sierra Leone Head of Office, Setcheme  Jeromnime Mongbo, and team and made a stopover in Bo City.

In Bo City, the Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, Asa Regner, & Regional Director of West and Central Africa of UN Women, Oulimata Sarr, visited the Commit and Act Organisation to collaborate on survivor case studies and treatment for victims of #SGBV as part of government structures to prevent imprisonable crimes in support of GEWE. The Program Manager, Edmond Joebodie Brandon, is grateful to receive support from UN Women during the COVID-19 outbreak. Healthcare, livelihood capacity, psycho-social care, and shelters are made available to teenage mothers and victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) despite the organization’s mobility and infrastructural challenges.

“UN Women is committed to strengthening its existing partnerships to improve the quality of, and access to, comprehensive essential services for survivors of violence in Sierra Leone”  ASG/DED Asa Regner said.

ASG/DED Asa Regner will meet with the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Brigadier (Retired) Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the Speaker of Parliament Dr. Abass Bundu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs and Finance, members of the Female Parliamentary Caucus, and the Statistician-General of Statistics Sierra Leone.  Additionally, she will meet with members of the Diplomatic Corps and Heads of the International Financial Institutions (IFI), development partners, civil society organizations, women, and youth groups in Sierra Leone.  ASG/DED Asa Regner will also pay a courtesy call on the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi (Ph.D.), attend a special United Nations Country Team meeting and host a townhall-styled engagement with the UN Women team in the country.

She will give a keynote address at the 10th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights 2022 (ACSHR 2022) with a focus on the Generation Equality Forum and the European Union-United Nations Spotlight Initiative.

Links to biographies:

1. Assistant Secretary General Asa Regner:

https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/directorate/ded-policy-programme-civil-society-and-intergovernmental-support 

2. Ms. Oulimata Sarr: https://africa.unwomen.org/en/about-us/regional-directorate/wcaro-regional-director

For more information, please contact:

1. Patience Ekeoba: UN Women Programme Coordination Specialist; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Cellphone +23276042732
2. Faisal Lewally: Assistant Coordinator; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Cellphone: +23299520730
3. Yeama Sarah Thompson: Commissioned Communications Consultant; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Cellphone + 232 79107752

About UN-Women: UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes, and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls worldwide. It works globally to make the vision of the SDGs a reality for women and girls and stands behind women's equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on four strategic priorities: