By Mahamood Fofana
BBC Media Action Sierra Leone has concluded a ten-day engagement with media stakeholders aimed at confronting sexual harassment and abuse faced by female journalists across the country. The engagement, which ended on 20th February 2026, brought together radio station managers, female reporters, media practitioners, and representatives of women-led organisations to examine the scale of the problem and design a sustainable response mechanism.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to create safer and more inclusive newsroom environments in Sierra Leone. Discussions throughout the engagement focused on sharing lived experiences, identifying structural gaps within media institutions, and exploring the establishment of a Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH) reporting and response mechanism tailored to the media sector.
Speaking during the closing session, Marian Tina Conteh, Senior Project Officer at BBC Media Action Sierra Leone, referenced findings from a recent survey conducted by the organisation. The study, she disclosed, revealed what she described as widespread and deeply concerning incidents of sexual harassment against female journalists in the country.
“This engagement has provided a platform for frank discussions and collective reflection,” Conteh stated. “Our objective is to develop a mechanism that will create safe spaces for women in the media to report abuse without fear of retaliation. We expect the final report to be released in March this year.”
Facilitating the engagement was Irene Kariuki, a Kenya-based Independent Consultant on Gender-Based Violence. Kariuki explained that the project seeks to understand the socio-professional realities female journalists face in Sierra Leone, particularly how sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment impact their career progression and psychological wellbeing.
She noted that institutional silence remains a significant barrier, as leadership structures within many media houses are often reluctant to openly address the issue. According to her, harassment can occur at multiple stages—from university training to newsroom assignments—yet victims frequently remain silent due to fear of stigma or professional repercussions.
“At the end of this process, we are hoping to establish a participatory SEAH mechanism shaped by key actors in the sector,” Kariuki said. “The long-term goal is to provide structured support to survivors and ensure accountability within media institutions.”
Media managers also acknowledged the gravity of the issue. Abdulai Sillah, Station Manager of Amzas Radio 96.9 FM, openly recognized the challenges confronting women journalists. He called on the Independent Media Commission to collaborate with stakeholders in developing a sector-wide policy framework that would make the protection of women a prerequisite for media license renewal. He further recommended that an action-oriented policy document be finalized within the shortest possible timeframe.
Participants welcomed the initiative. Abibatu M. Yansaneh, a final-year Mass Communication student at Central University, described the engagement as timely and impactful, expressing optimism that the proposed mechanism would strengthen protections for aspiring female journalists.
Patricia Kabia, a practicing journalist, urged BBC Media Action to ensure that the final report reflects the harsh realities women face in newsrooms. “We often do not speak out because the perpetrators are sometimes our supervisors,” she said, emphasizing the urgent need for confidentiality and institutional reform.
The engagement concluded with a renewed commitment among stakeholders to institutionalize safeguards and promote a culture of accountability within Sierra Leone’s media landscape.
