RC's Speech on the Launch of All Female Drivers Training in the Republic of the Sierra Leone

Distinguished guests,

Senior leadership of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces,

Representatives of the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs,

The Canadian Consulate,

UN colleagues,

Media partners,

And most importantly, the trailblazing women officers gathered here today,

Good morning.

It is a pleasure to be part of the official launch of the All-Female Drivers Training, a crucial step that will see 75 female officers from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces receive driving lessons to complement and enhance their skills.

Indeed, the launch of the driving lessons marks a pivotal step in operationalizing the recommendations of the 2022 Barrier Assessment Study titled: “Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP)”, supported by the Elsie Initiative Fund through UN Women. This landmark study identified a series of priority barriers that undermine the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in the peace operations. Among these, limited access to career enhancing training including driving was highlighted as a key obstacle to women’s eligibility for deployment in peacekeeping missions,

This training that we are launching today will not only equip women officers with essential mobility skills but also reinforce the commitment of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces to a

stronger inclusion agenda as well as advancing the provision of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act of 2022, especially on at least 30% of women’s representation in leadership and deployment roles.

It is very important to emphasize that this initiative is not just about training; it is about women’s empowerment, preparing women for promotion, and placing women officers on equal footing with their counterparts at national, regional and global levels.

Globally, women remain underrepresented in peacekeeping operations. As of 2022, only 5.9% of military personnel deployed in UN peacekeeping missions were women. While this marks progress from just 1% in 1993, it is still far from the parity we strive for. The United Nations continues to urge Member States to increase the deployment of uniformed women, recognizing that their participation enhances mission effectiveness, community trust, and operational diversity.

As we mark 25 years of UNSCR 1325, today’s launch directly responds to Outcome 3 of the Elsie Initiative Fund: which focuses on increasing the pool of uniformed women eligible to deploy as UN peacekeepers and aligns with Sierra Leone’s Third Generation National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 (2024–2029).

This initiative is therefore part of a broader capacity-building effort, which offers a practical solution to a systemic challenge. It sends a clear message: Sierra Leone is committed to dismantling barriers and building pathways for women in uniform to lead, serve, and deploy. These are not isolated actions; they are part of a coordinated national strategy to fulfill the promises of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.

And as the UN Resident Coordinator here in Sierra Leone, I take this opportunity to reaffirm the UN commitment to advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, an agenda that is even more crucial now as we confront evolving security challenges worldwide and strive to build inclusive institutions that reflect the strength, leadership, and resilience of both men and women.

A few days ago, the UN family in Sierra Leone, commemorated the UN@80 which reminded us of the role women – including female officers in government security forces have played and continue to play 80 years on. In this same spirit, we remain steadfast in our support for inclusive peacebuilding, and we will continue to work alongside national institutions to support efforts that enable women in uniform to lead and shape the future of peace and security in this country, the region, and globally.

In this regard, we will continue working together with the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, and all stakeholders to ensure this initiative delivers sustainable impact. Thanks to UN Women and the Elsie Initiative Fund for their coordination and support.

To the women officers here today, you are standing on the great work done by the women in uniform that have come before you: therefore, I urge and encourage you today, you are not just learning to drive you are driving change. You are the embodiment of Sierra Leone’s commitment to gender equality, inclusive peace and security.

Finally, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), a true champion of gender equality within the Armed Forces. Let us keep the momentum going.

We look forward to celebrating with all of you the success of this training and the successful implementation of the Elsie Initiative Fund project in Mama Salone.

Thank you.