Media Reform Coordinating Group - Sierra Leone

21/09/2026

‼️MRCG Holds Project Closing Meeting‼️

The Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) today held a project closing meeting in Freetown, on the project entitled “Enhancing Press Freedom, Women’s Digital Rights, and Accountability Governance in Sierra Leone,” supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana. The meeting brought together key stakeholders to reflect on the implementation, achievements, lessons learned, and overall impact of the project. It provided an opportunity for participants to review the major activities undertaken during the project period, assess progress against its objectives, and highlight key outcomes and contributions to Sierra Leone’s media and information ecosystem. Participants, mainly female journalists, CSOs and other women led organizations, also discussed challenges encountered during implementation and shared perspectives on how the gains made can be sustained beyond the project period.

In his remarks, MRCG’s National Coordinator, Dr Francis Sowa, expressed appreciation to the donor, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana, partners including Women In The Media Sierra Leone, SLAWIJ, MoICE and other stakeholder groups, beneficiaries, and implementing team for their commitment and support throughout the project. He noted that the closing meeting was not only an opportunity to formally conclude the project but also a platform to identify lessons that could inform future interventions in media development and reforms, especially on women’s digital and online rights issues. The meeting ended with renewed commitment among stakeholders to sustain collaboration, build on the achievements recorded, and continue supporting initiatives that contribute to a stronger, more professional, inclusive, and resilient media sector in Sierra Leone.

21/09/2026

Project Closing Meeting: Enhancing Press Freedom, Women’s Digital Rights and Accountability Governance in Sierra Leone.

05/09/2026

Popularization of Reports on Community Media in Sierra Leone

22/08/2026

Yesterday, our National Coordinator, Dr. Francis Sowa participated in a Policy Dialogue Forum on Gender
Justice in the Media, organized by Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) in collaboration with Comic Relief.

The Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) welcomes this important Policy Dialogue Forum on Gender Justice in the Media and commends WIMSAL for convening stakeholders to address one of the most pressing challenges confronting the media sector.

Apart from the several initiatives we do on women’s representation in the media, the MRCG also recognizes that gender justice is fundamental to the credibility, professionalism and sustainability of Sierra Leone’s media. A safe and inclusive media environment must ensure that women journalists and media professionals can work without fear of sexual harassment, intimidation, discrimination or abuse of power.

Indeed, the findings highlighted in the 2025 BBC Media Action report on sexual harassment in the media demand urgent and sustained attention. The report also noted persistent under-reporting and weak accountability mechanisms of these issues demonstrates the need for media institutions to move beyond commitments and establish practical, credible and enforceable systems for safeguarding female journalists.

Our work, as a reform group has always been to promote reforms that create a more inclusive media environment in which women journalists can participate, advance professionally and contribute meaningfully to decision-making within media institutions, promote responsible reporting on women and gender issues by encouraging journalists and media houses to avoid stereotypes, victim-blaming and discriminatory language, while giving greater visibility to women’s voices and experiences.

The MRCG will at all times support stronger gender-responsive safeguarding policies within media institutions, including confidential and accessible reporting mechanisms, clear procedures for investigating complaints, protection against retaliation, institutional accountability and continuous awareness and training for media managers and staff.

MRCG therefore calls for a collective and sustained commitment from media owners, editors, journalists, professional associations, regulatory institutions, civil society organizations and Government to strengthen gender justice and safeguarding across the media landscape of Sierra Leone. We believe that meaningful reform requires not only policies on paper, but also leadership, enforcement, monitoring and accountability.

MRCG stands ready to work with WIMSAL to advance practical reforms that protect journalists—particularly women in the media—while strengthening media freedom, professionalism and public trust. Together, we can build a media sector in which every journalist is able to work with dignity, equality, safety and confidence.

15/08/2026

‼️‼THIS DAY IN TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE HISTORY OF SIERRA LEONE‼‼️

14 August 2000 is a significant date in Sierra Leone’s transitional justice history because it marked the United Nations Security Council's intervention to begin establishing what would later become the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Following a request by President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1315 (2000) on 14 August 2000. The resolution requested the UN Secretary-General to negotiate with the Government of Sierra Leone and prepare proposals for the establishment of a special court to prosecute those bearing the greatest responsibility for serious violations of international humanitarian law and Sierra Leonean law committed during the civil war.

This development was important because it marked the beginning of the accountability pillar of Sierra Leone’s transitional justice process. It complemented the planned Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Sierra Leone, which focused on truth-telling, healing, and reconciliation, as well as on documenting the causes and consequences of the conflict. The Security Council resolution specifically acknowledged Sierra Leone’s efforts to establish a national truth and reconciliation process while recognizing that criminal accountability was also necessary for those who bore the greatest responsibility for atrocities.

Why does this date matter in Sierra Leone’s transitional justice timeline?
UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1315 (2000), requested the UN Secretary-General to submit proposals within 30 days for establishing a Special Court for Sierra Leone, and formally launched the international process that led to the creation of the Special Court.

This short video on the establishment of the Special Court for Sierra Leone is produced by the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), with support from the Africa Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF), under the project "Engaging the Media and Communities to Change the Narratives on Transitional Justice (TJ) Issues in Sierra Leone."

https://youtu.be/r5zdikcEubA

25/06/2026

What do you understand by Digital Rights?

Please leave your answer in the comment section.

The Media Reform Coordinatin Group (MRCG) Sierra Leone was established in 2014.

25/06/2026

Editors and Managers Forum on Transitional Justice Issues in Sierra Leone

19/06/2026

DID YOU KNOW??

The Tripartite Committee recommends that the Persons with Disability Act should be amended to ensure there is progressive implementation of the principle that up to 5% of the members of the public in elective and appointive offices are persons with disabilities, and that the starting point be at least 2%

Did you know this, and is this sufficient for persons living with disabilities?

15/06/2026

Learning Session on the Implementation of the Pilot Phase of the National Fund for Public Interest Media (NFPIM)

14/06/2026

ATJLF Community Exit Meeting