In a powerful step toward inclusive governance and sustainable peace, members of the Young Women in Democracy Forum (YWDF) recently participated in a regional workshop under the project:
“Localization of the GEWE Act and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda in Sierra Leone.”
Implemented by the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) in partnership with the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), this initiative is bridging the gap between national policies and community realities—ensuring that women and girls at the grassroots level understand their rights, roles, and power in shaping peace and democracy.
Why Localization Matters
While landmark policies like the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act (2022) and the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) exist on paper, their true impact depends on local understanding and ownership.
This project is changing that. By bringing these frameworks directly to communities, YWDF and its partners are:
- Demystifying legal language into accessible knowledge
- Empowering young women to become community educators and peace advocates
- Strengthening local mechanisms for gender-responsive governance and conflict prevention
“The law is not just for parliament. It belongs to every woman and girl in every village.”
— Mariama Sahid, Advocacy & Communications Officer, YWDF and 2025 NOVA Award Recipient.
YWDF members were equipped with practical tools to lead community dialogues, design awareness campaigns, and advocate for gender-responsive policies at the district level.
Empowering Young Women as Peacebuilders
As a youth-led movement representing all 16 districts of Sierra Leone, YWDF plays a critical role in ensuring that young women are not left out of peacebuilding conversations.
As Regina Gborie, National Communications Officer and YALI Emerging Leader, shared:
“We are not just beneficiaries—we are leaders of the change we want to see.”
