The Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), MFWA’s national partner in Sierra Leone, has convened an advocacy meeting focused on advancing women’s digital rights and media freedoms in the country.
Held on 27 January 2026, the meeting was organised with funding support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana. It brought together 15 women representatives from the media, civil society, and women’s rights organisations to examine challenges women face in the digital space and to shape collective advocacy responses.
MRCG National Coordinator, Dr. Francis Sowa, outlined the objectives of the meeting and underscored the increasing imperative of protecting women’s digital rights as online engagement expands. “As more women engage with digital platforms for journalism, activism, and civic participation, it is critical that their rights are protected and their voices amplified,” he said.
Dr. Sowa added that the engagement formed part of MRCG’s broader commitment to promoting media freedom, digital inclusion, and safe online spaces for women in Sierra Leone.
The meeting was chaired by Eastina Taylor-Tucker, President of Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WiMSAL), who encouraged open and inclusive dialogue and highlighted the gender-specific barriers women face in the online environment. “Women continue to encounter harassment, intimidation, and exclusion in digital spaces, and these challenges directly affect their freedom of expression. By bringing women together to share experiences and propose solutions, we are laying the foundation for stronger advocacy and policy responses,” she noted.
Participants discussed a range of issues affecting women online, identifying key challenges within the digital environment, and developed recommendations that will inform an outcome document. The document is expected to guide future advocacy efforts on online safety, digital literacy, access, and the rights of women in the digital space.
The meeting forms part of MRCG’s ongoing work, supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana, to promote inclusive media reforms and strengthen protections for women within Sierra Leone’s evolving digital and media landscape.
