Sexual exploitation and abuse: implementing a zero-tolerance policy - General Assembly Stakeout

General Assembly Media Stakeout by H.E. Madam Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone on the Draft Resolution "Sexual exploitation and abuse: implementing a zero-tolerance policy".

Other speakers:

• Mr. Nnamdi Nze, Minister, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations
• Ambassador Alhaji Fanday Turay, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations
• Ms. Brisa De Angulo, representative of A Breeze of Hope Foundation and the Brave Movement
• Ms. Jennifer Wortham, representative of Global Collaborative

From this year on, 18 November will be known as the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence.

The General Assembly today (7 Nov) acted on the draft resolution A/77/L.8 co-sponsored by Sierra Leone, ‘Sexual exploitation and abuse: implementing a zero-tolerance policy,’ for the creation of the new international day.

Addressing the General Assembly, Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, invited member states to work to “preserve the dignity of our children, to protect their childhood, restore the dignity of victims and survivors of child exploitation, abuse, and violence and bring them justice and healing.”

She concluded, “At this point, I want to say to the world, ‘hands off to our girls.”

Following the General Assembly’s action on the Draft Resolution, Fatima Maada Bio talked to the press.

She said, “I don't know whether we'll be able to stop rape altogether in the world. But the louder we get, I think, it reduces the number of victims that we have. “

She also stated, “I am not a victim of rape. But I am a victim of early marriage. So, I understand indirectly for me, I keep saying that early marriage is legalized form of rape. So, I believe that the victims they all have the same story. Because when someone violates your body without your consent, that is a crime, and it's taking your human rights away from you.”

The First Lady continued, “So, November 18 will be a day that we will gather, and we will scream together and say you're not going to bring us down. We’re still surviving, and we will live. If you think you have finished us, no, you haven't.”

She also noted, “People don't want to talk about rape, and it's a very big issue. So, if you have a day like this, and then you have a lot of people who are willing to come forward, I think they should be allowed. Why do we celebrate freedom of speech if I'm not allowed to say what was done to me?”