WWW Coalition in Sierra Leone successfully lobbies for enactment of laws related to women's rights 

Since its launch, the Sierra Leone WWW coalition have managed to assiduously mount public awareness campaigns to change the landscape of women's human rights in Sierra Leone. The coalition, made of groups working on issue of violence against women, groups of women living with HIV&AIDS, government ministries, women lawyers, other civil society groups, media and opinion leaders formed strong partnerships to conduct advocacy and apply pressure in the realisation of the groups's achievements.

The coalition members decided to campaign for the speedy enactment of the three drafted three bills by government in 2004 - (i) Registration of Customary Marriages and Divorce, (ii) Intestate Succession, and (iii) Domestic Violence Bills that they have failed to bring them into force.

This decision was followed by intensive campaigning involving the media, education, lobbying, demonstrations, outreach to schools and other civil society groups, and revision of the bills. In addition, the coalition raised funds for the pre-legislative session for all parliamentarians to discuss the bills. This session was facilitated by women lawyers within the coalitions supported by women and HIV and AIDS activists. At the same time a lot of lobbying was going on behind the scene to ensure that all parliamentarians were present in parliament during the pre-legislative session and the day the bills would be tabled. During both sittings (pre-leg, and when the bills were tabled in parliament), the coalition organised for simultaneous radio phone-in programmes for solidarity statements from other women and well wishes. The bills were tabled on 14^th June, 2007 and they were all passed into laws with very few amendments.