HANDS OFF OUR GIRLS Launch & sensitisation tour

HANDS OFF OUR GIRLS INITIATIVE

The#HandsOffOurGirls (HOOG) campaign was launched by His Excellency the President of Sierra Leone, with support from African First Ladies, 14th Dec 2018. First Ladies from Africa converged in Sierra Leone to lend their support at the inaugural launch of the #handsoffourgirls campaign. "Self-Determination" means Sierra Leone must take responsibility for it's development. The HOOG initiative was 100% made and sponsored by Sierra Leone. The initiative is to complement the government's Free Quality Education, to protect, educate and inspire our girls to be equal partners in Sierra Leones drive towards sustainable development.

The initiative has different thematic areas, but emphasis has been on protecting and educating our children. In this regard, emphasis has been on advocating against Sexual and gender based violence, specifically targeting rape and early marriage and recently combating period poverty among school going children.

The beauty of the HOOG campaign, is the renewed vigour it has created in the country for agencies to intensify their fight for Women's Empowerment, and the positive Attitudinal and Behavioural change it has created in our children. The initiative has several powerful NGO's, private enterprise in Sierra Leone that are supporting the government to ensure the initiative is working towards achieving it's goals. The modus operandi of working directly with our paramount chiefs and with the children is unprecedented in the history of Sierra Leone. As the country moves forward in breaking the cycle of underdevelopment as we prepare for the fourth revolution, we are getting our children ready. Human Capital Development is key. What we sow in our children today, we will reap in sustainable development tomorrow. The children are our future, we have a responsibility to protect and educate them.

PEACEFUL MARCH AGAINST RAPE

History was made, when First Ladies from across Africa joined the peaceful protest march against Gender Based Violence on the streets of Freetown, Sierra Leone. It was a clear simple message “Hands Off Our Girls”. As part of the launch, a position note, against Gender Based Violence (With emphasis on rape), was delivered to the Attorney General on 15th December 2018 in front of the law courts building close to the historical cotton tree in Freetown Sierra Leone before the peaceful protest began. . This eventually led to a declaration of a national emergency on rape in February 2019, and a review of the sexual offences act in Sept 2019.

Official launch of the Hands Off Our Girls Initiative

Peaceful Protest March with First Ladies Peaceful Protest March

HOOG NATIONAL SENSITISATION TOUR 2019 / 2020

A year after the official lunch of HOOG, the First Lady went on the most intensive sensitisation tour in the history of Sierra Leone. Emphasis was on rape and early marriage. The aim of the Hands off our Girls sensitisation tour is to expand the reach of the campaign beyond the capital city of Freetown to districts headquarters, villages and beyond our borders.

The initiative was designed to be owned by Sierra Leoneans, this was achieved by working directly with influencers and stakeholders. So far, First Lady Fatima Bio has visited major districts headquarters, reaching out to key influencers like paramount chiefs (and their wives), teachers, school principals, religious leaders, government and non-government agencies , as well as the children.

A very simple but effective message

Her message is clear, everyone should encourage schools girls to attend school and take advantage of the free quality education by the new government, they are also encouraged to stay in school by advocating against early marriage and gender based violence. Paramount Chiefs in different districts are personally crowned as “Champions” of the #HandsOffOurGirls campaign by the First Lady herself. Paramount Chiefs are key influencers in most African countries and they are custodians of our laws. Working with them is the best way to get results. This has been effectively utilised by the “Hands Off Our Girls” Campaign in Sierra Leone.

On Wednesday 25 September 2019 in New York City, USA, First Lady H. E Fatima Bio hosted a successful “Hands off Our Girls” campaign event on the margins of the 74th United Nations General Assembly to advance global alertness on reducing early marriage and rape in Africa. From then to now, Hands off Our Girls has reached the length and breadth of this country with a strong voice to enforce it.

Paramount Chiefs crowned as Champions of Hands off Our Girls