In exactly six days after being honoured as Africa First Lady of the Year 2024, in the British Houses of Parliament, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio returned to the U.K. Parliament today. This time the First Lady was invited to deliver closing remarks at the World Humanitarian Forum (WHF).
Speaking on the theme, “Addressing Global Crises: The Role of Humanitarian Diplomacy in a Fragmented Era,” Dr. Fatima Bio made a compelling case for the urgent need to strengthen humanitarian diplomacy at a time of growing global turbulence.
The Sierra Leone First Lady’s speech was the highlight of the WHF, an event that brings together leaders from across major sectors to tackle humanitarian challenges. The forum, recognized as the largest and most diverse non-partisan platform in humanitarian aid, focuses on driving forward tangible solutions for crisis response, disaster relief, and sustainable development. This year’s panelists included H.E. Lolwah bint Rashid Al-Khater, the Qatari Minister of International Cooperation, and Lord Tariq Ahmad KCMG, Baron of Wimbledon. The session was moderated by Baroness Shaista Gohir OBE, also a member of the U.K. House of Lords.
In her address, Dr. Fatima Bio underscored the urgency of the global situation, declaring, “There can be no better time for humanitarian diplomacy than now.” She emphasized the need for a coordinated diplomatic approach to manage the multitude of expanding crises, ranging from the lingering aftermath of pandemics to escalating conflicts and geopolitical tensions.
Dr. Fatima Bio, hailing from a country and a continent that has suffered its fair share of disasters (both manmade and natural), outlined five key pillars that could help to advance effective humanitarian diplomacy:
1.Influencing conflicting parties to ensure civilian protection and access to aid.
2.Negotiating access to vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, often cut off from essential relief.
3.Advocating for international humanitarian law, ensuring human rights and protection for the vulnerable.
4.Building partnerships among governments, NGOs, and civil society to create unified responses.
5.Overcoming political and bureaucratic obstacles that impede humanitarian efforts.
The Sierra Leone First Lady warned of the dire consequences of inaction, stating, “The monumental catastrophe facing the world is sufficient justification for humanitarian diplomacy to be taken seriously.” Dr. Fatima Bio called on global leaders to take decisive actions, urging concrete solutions over mere discussions.
In closing, Dr. Fatima Bio expressed gratitude to the WHF for its role in advancing humanitarian diplomacy and thanked Baroness Shaista Gohir for moderating the session.
This speech in the British Parliament by the Sierra Leonean First Lady, the second time she has been so honoured in less than one week, served as a rallying cry for global unity and decisive humanitarian diplomacy in an increasingly fragmented world.
