—Experience Sharing Meetings Held with Key Stakeholders to Strengthen Child Rights Advocacy
A delegation from Liberia’s Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MGCSP), comprising of the leadership of Liberia Children Representative Forum, led by Deputy Minister for Children and Social Protection, Hon. Garmai Tokpah, has concluded a successful South-South Exchange visit to Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The visit, which took place from September 3rd to September 7th, 2024, was 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. The initiative was part of commitments made during the celebration of the Day of the African Child (DAC) to strengthen child rights advocacy in both countries.
The exchange visit aimed to provide a platform for children from Liberia and Sierra Leone to engage in meaningful dialogue, share experiences, and learn from each other. A significant outcome of the visit was the resolution between the Liberia National Children Representative Forum and the Children Forum Network of Sierra Leone to form the Africa Children Alliance (AFRICA), a coalition envisioned to include Mano River Union countries and potentially expand to ECOWAS and the African Union. This alliance aims to promote child rights advocacy across the continent.
During their stay in Freetown, the 18-member Liberian delegation, which included two representatives from the disabled children’s community, held a series of experience-sharing meetings with key stakeholders. These meetings included sessions with the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs of Sierra Leone, the Liberian Embassy, UNICEF, Save the Children, Plan International, the National Commission of Children, and the Coalition of Child Rights Organizations.
A courtesy visit was paid to the office of the Deputy Minister of Children at the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs of Sierra Leone, where both countries discussed best practices and strategies for advancing child rights advocacy and gender equality. The delegation also facilitated meetings between the Liberia National Children Representative Forum and the National Executive Committee of the Sierra Leone Children Forum Network, allowing young leaders from both nations to share their experiences and discuss collaborative approaches to addressing the challenges faced by children in their respective countries.
One of the key topics discussed was the need for a stronger partnership between Liberia and Sierra Leone in child rights advocacy, particularly in areas such as combating child labor, promoting access to education, and addressing gender-based violence against children. Both countries recognized the importance of involving children in these discussions to ensure that their voices are heard and their rights are protected.
Reflecting on the visit, Hon. Garmai Tokpah expressed optimism about the outcomes, stating, “This exchange visit has provided us with invaluable insights and practical solutions to enhance our efforts in promoting child rights. We have learned a great deal from Sierra Leone’s approaches and look forward to implementing some of these strategies in Liberia.”
Several commitments were made as part of efforts to strengthen the sisterly collaboration between both countries.
The delegation’s visit underscored the importance of regional cooperation and knowledge exchange in advancing shared goals of child rights advocacy and social protection. It also highlighted the vital role that partnerships with organizations like UNICEF, Save the Children, and Plan International play in supporting these efforts.
The delegation also participated in a series of roundtable discussions with CSOs and international partners working in Sierra Leone.
The Liberian delegation returned to Monrovia on September 7th, 2024, with renewed commitment and a strategic plan to integrate the lessons learned into their ongoing programs. They are planning follow-up engagements with local stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the new strategies discussed during the exchange visit.
