Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) and its partners have secured the adoption of a new gender-responsive safeguarding policy for media institutions in Sierra Leone. The WIMSAL Gender-Responsive Safeguarding Policy for Media Institutions, 2026, was formally adopted and endorsed during a one-day Policy Dialogue Forum. The forum took place on Friday, 21 August 2026, at the Civil Service Training College, Tower Hill, Freetown. WIMSAL organized the engagement with support from Comic Relief and in partnership with BBC Media Action. The event was held under the theme, “Advancing Gender-Responsive Safeguarding Policies in Media Houses,” aiming to combat harassment and discrimination within the sector. This landmark policy is specifically designed to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and discrimination across Sierra Leone’s media industry, marking a significant step towards fostering a safer and more equitable professional environment for all media workers.
Policy Details and Scope
The WIMSAL Gender-Responsive Safeguarding Policy, 2026, sets minimum standards for media institutions in Sierra Leone. The policy establishes full measures designed to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, while also working to eliminate gender-based discrimination and violence within the media sector. Its provisions include the establishment of safe and accessible reporting mechanisms for individuals to raise concerns, ensuring that victims and witnesses have clear, confidential, and supportive channels through which to report incidents without fear.
The policy mandates fair and impartial investigations into reported incidents, guaranteeing that all complaints are handled with due diligence and transparency. It ensures strong protection against retaliation for those who come forward, reinforcing the commitment to a culture where speaking out is encouraged, not punished. Beyond physical environments, the document specifically addresses online gender-based abuse and the unique dangers faced by women journalists in the digital sphere, acknowledging the evolving landscape of threats they encounter. Media institutions are required by the policy to strengthen safeguarding through regular, mandatory training sessions for all staff, from entry-level journalists to senior management. It also mandates consistent monitoring of compliance with the policy’s stipulations and the clear definition of responsibilities for all personnel involved in upholding the policy's standards, ensuring accountability at every level of an organization. This holistic approach aims to embed safeguarding principles into the very fabric of media operations.
Context and Previous Efforts
Media executives, journalists, professional associations, Civil Society Organisations, and development partners attended the dialogue on the safeguarding policy. The forum addressed critical issues including sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment within the media sector, acknowledging the widespread nature of these problems. Discussions also focused on weak reporting structures that have historically hindered accountability, the widespread fear of retaliation among victims which often leads to silence, and the limited representation of women in leadership and decision-making positions across media institutions in Sierra Leone. These discussions showed the urgent need for a structured and enforceable policy framework.
The adoption of the new policy builds upon previous interventions initiated by Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) and BBC Media Action, demonstrating a sustained commitment to addressing these systemic issues. These earlier efforts included providing key support for the establishment of a dedicated secretariat. This secretariat was designed to facilitate the reporting of cases involving sexual exploitation, harassment, and abuse, aiming to create a more accessible and secure channel for victims to come forward, thereby laying the groundwork for the formal policy.
In 2025, BBC Media Action published a full report specifically detailing the prevalence and impact of sexual harassment within the media industry in Sierra Leone. This report provided a foundational understanding of the challenges faced by media professionals, offering empirical data that noted the urgency of policy intervention. Further context was provided by a 2026 study. This subsequent research specifically examined women's representation and leadership roles within the Sierra Leonean media landscape, noting significant disparities and areas for improvement that the new policy aims to directly address by promoting greater inclusion and empowerment. These studies collectively painted a clear picture of the environment that necessitated such a strong safeguarding framework.
Stakeholder Commitments and Vision
The newly adopted policy aims to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and discrimination throughout Sierra Leone's media industry. Crucially, it also seeks to increase women's meaningful participation in leadership and decision-making positions within media institutions, recognizing that greater representation at the top contributes significantly to a safer and more equitable workplace for all. Stakeholders at the dialogue forum agreed unequivocally that gender should never become an obstacle to professional advancement for media workers, emphasizing merit and capability over gender. They further concurred that no person who files a complaint in good faith should face retaliation for doing so, reinforcing the policy’s protective mechanisms and encouraging transparency.
Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) pledged to continue working diligently with all stakeholders to ensure the policy's commitments are translated into concrete action at every media house in the country. This involves ongoing advocacy, capacity building, and monitoring of implementation. The overarching initiative endeavors to transform Sierra Leone's media culture from one of silence to accountability, from vulnerability to protection, and from written promises to meaningful institutional reform. This ambitious vision seeks to create a lasting cultural shift where ethical conduct and respect are critical. The forum concluded with a unified and powerful call for all media houses to create workplaces where journalists can perform their duties without harassment, discrimination, or fear, ensuring a professional environment that supports the integrity and well-being of every media professional.