Freetown: Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs (MoGCA) reinforced its commitment to advancing women's empowerment and gender equality through high-level engagement. This meeting involved Irish Members of Parliament (MPs), female parliamentarians, development partners, and the Network of Women Ministers and Parliamentarians (NEWMaP). According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the session occurred at the Speaker's Conference Room, Parliament. Key stakeholders included Minister Dr. Isata Mahoi; Female Parliamentary Caucus Chairperson Hon. Bernadette Wuyata Songa; Parliamentary Gender Committee Chairperson Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawally; Trócaire Sierra Leone Head Mr. George Were; Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) representative Mr. Sahr Kendema; NEWMaP Coordinator Hannah Lahai Robinson; MoGCA Chief Director Charles Vandi; Irish delegation representatives; other Parliament, Trócaire, and MoGCA officials. Mr. George Were opened the session by noting Trócaire's long commitment to supporting vulnerable women an d the challenges they face in Sierra Leone. He highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships and collaborative interventions in promoting social transformation, economic empowerment, and inclusive development. Mr. Were also mentioned past engagements with the Government of Sierra Leone, involving discussions with the Vice President and Parliament, which focused on strengthening women's governance participation and enhancing community development opportunities. Mr. Sahr Kendema provided background on NEWMaP, tracing the network's journey and efforts to reactivate its secretariat. He emphasized the creation of platforms to amplify women's voices in governance and decision-making. He noted President Julius Maada Bio's official launch of the revitalized network as a significant milestone in promoting women's leadership. Hon. Bernadette Wuyata Songa, speaking for the Female Parliamentary Caucus, described the Fifth Parliament as a turning point for advancing women's governance participation. She highlight ed efforts by female parliamentarians, including learning visits to study successful women's political participation models from other African parliaments. Hon. Songa identified remaining challenges, such as limited capacity-building opportunities, inadequate financial support, and the need for a stronger women's solidarity community at the national level. She noted that collaboration with the Government's Executive arm and international support programs, including the ForShe campaign, has significantly strengthened female legislators' capacity. Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawally reflected on the challenges women face under the First-Past-The-Post electoral system. She cited cyberbullying, intimidation, and societal barriers as key obstacles to women's political participation. She acknowledged the transformative impact of the Gender Equality Women's Empowerment (GEWE) Act and stressed the need for continued reforms, including a review of the Public Elections Act, to further enhance women's leadership, decision -making, and representation. Hon. Rebecca Yei Kamara highlighted legislative achievements in protecting and advancing women's rights, including the Customary Land Rights Act, GEWE Act, and Sexual Offences Act. She called for increased resource mobilization to support women's empowerment program implementation, particularly at district and community levels. The Irish parliamentary delegation representative commended Sierra Leone's remarkable progress in gender equality and women's leadership. The delegation praised legislative reforms and sought further insights into addressing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the role of traditional leaders in advancing the protection of women and girls. Minister Dr. Isata Mahoi delivered a keynote address, welcoming the Irish delegation and development partners. She highlighted NEWMaP's significance in advancing women's leadership and cross-party collaboration. Dr. Mahoi noted that female Parliament representation increased from approximately 12 percent before the 2023 elections to 30 percent afterward. Women currently account for 34.5 percent of Cabinet Ministers and 36 percent of Deputy Ministers. She attributed these achievements largely to the successful implementation of the GEWE Act. "If not for the GEWE Act enactment, I would not be here," she stated. The Minister explained her motivation in reviving the NEWMaP Secretariat, inactive for nearly two decades, driven by a desire to strengthen women's participation in public life and decision-making. She described NEWMaP as a vital mechanism for addressing gender inequalities, fostering cross-party cooperation among women leaders, promoting gender equity, and creating opportunities for women's leadership across all sectors of society. Dr. Mahoi reaffirmed the Government's commitment to ensuring women and girls have access to empowerment and leadership opportunities. She identified persistent challenges, including household responsibilities, child protection issues, and social barriers affecting women. The meeting conc luded with collective stakeholder commitment to strengthening collaboration between MoGCA, Trócaire, the Irish Parliament, and other partners in advancing gender equality, women's empowerment, and sustainable development initiatives throughout Sierra Leone.