By Isha S. Mansaray
Records seen by this press shows that 3, 339 cases of sexual violence have been committed against the women and girls of Sierra Leone. Out of this figure, Freetown recorded 1, 409, Kenema 710, Kono 422, Makeni, 303 and Bo 495.
The statistics which was presented by a humanitarian agency called Rainbo Initiative remains worrisome for a country struggling to ensure zero-tolerance on sexual violence. Despite a worrying trend presented by the 2020 statistics, sexual assault however shows a decreasing trend as the agency recorded 3, 701 cases in 2019. Rainbo Initiative has been in Sierra Leone for years helping victims of sexual violence especially children below 18 years. It has a pool of medics who examine sexual assault victims and recommend for appropriate care and treatment.
Their examinations have, to a large extent, help law enforcement institutions to successfully prosecute sexual offences in court. Communication coordinator, Rainbo Initiative, Alison French told this press that they arrived at such statistics owing to the information they collect from victims who visit the centre.
“We do collect information by ensuring that survivors get coded serial numbers,” she said.
Madam French also explained the methodology employed to get the figures.
“We do it systematically; we collect information district by district, centre by centre and the figures are put together to get the total counts of sexual assault cases,” she explained.
Rainbo agency operates under the principle of confidentiality. Names of victims and any other information that may expose victims’ identity are forbidden from revelation. The agency strictly complies with such fundamental ethics in Child protection. She also told this press that her institution owned and operated five in Sierra Leone.
The nations’ capital, Freetown, Kono, Bo, Makeni and Kenema host Rainbo Centres for the examination of sexual violence victims. Owing to the perennial problem of an exploded population, Freetown has seen the worst and highest incidents of sexual violence. The agency attributed the high prevalence rate of sexual violence in Freetown as outskirts notably Masiaka report sexual assault incidents in Freetown.
People’s level of awareness about sexual violence through public education schemes mounted by government has been identified as one of the factors for the high number of cases reported. The political will of government to stamp out sexual violence has also encouraged victims to report at law institutions to ensure their safety.
In 2019, President Julius Maada Bio controversially pronounced a state of emergency on sexual violence. Although the Presidential proclamation suffered a setback in parliament, government however got some positive results.
The emergency resulted into the amendment of Sexual Offences Act of 2012. The amendment increased the penalty for conviction of sexual offences from 15 years to life imprisonment. The presence of aggravating factors at conviction may warrant a lengthy jail term.
Although the crime continues, steps taken by government to stem the tide however become a deterrent to would-be offenders.
The ‘Hands Off our Girls’ campaign launched by the country’s First Lady, Fatima Bio is a great manifestation of the political will. The Euphoria the campaign generated led to a fundamental turning point in the campaign against sexual violence in Sierra Leone.
Rainbo initiative works with suck key partners as LAWYERS (Legal Assistance for Women Yearning for Justice and Equal Rights), FSU (Family Support Unit) of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), Aberdeen Women Centre and Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs. LAWYERS and Aberdeen Women Centre are non-governmental organisations that provide assistance to victims of sexual violence.
Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs and the FSU are government agencies that investigate and prosecute sexual matters in court.
The FSU, a unit created in 2003 in the SLP has flexed its muscles in the investigation and prosecution of sex crimes. The unit was a post-war creation that traced its origin in the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) report of 2002. It was initially located at the SLP Kissy Divisional Headquaters as a pilot project.
The unit recorded positive achievement prompting police high command to provide the requisite personnel and logistics to handle the influx of sexual reports.
Over the years, the unit metamorphosed into the Family Support Unit with presence in all police divisions in the country. The unit has made tremendous effort in the prosecution of sexual violence in Sierra Leone.
High profile sexual crime convicts are behind bars while others are answering to criminal charges in the courts. The case of founder and leader of the Alliance Democratic Party, Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray is a shining example.
Owing to the recurring trend of sexual assault offences, FSU now has a new unit known as SAS (Sexual Assault Syndicate). The new unit is specialised in the investigation of only sexual crimes for successful prosecution.
SAS has little business with minor matters of gender-based violence. In spite of their weaknesses, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Manti Tarawallie said in a press briefing that six one-stop centres had been constructed in Sierra Leone.
Two centres, the Minister said, were under construction in Karene and Bonthe districts. The campaign against sexual violence has attracted funding from various international organisations notably Purposeful Comic Relief, Irish Aid, Open Society Initiative for West Africa and the European Union.
The reduction of sexual assault cases from 3, 701 in 2019 to 3,339 for 2020 should not nurture complacency in the authorities. It is incontrovertible that government has done much in the fight against sexual violence, but much has to be done if the country is to remain safe.
More efforts is required of government to send a loud and clear message that society does not tolerate sexual violence in whatever form. It is only when Sierra Leone achieves in the eradication of sexual violence that society talks about gender parity.
Safety from sexual violence is one of the fundamental pillars of a society yearning for gender equality. Gender experts have argued that the state can harness women’s full potentials only if they are free from sexual violence and harassment.