Peep Sierra Leone

Rather than decreasing, incidents of sexual violence against women have increased since the end of the war journalists has been informed.

Compared with 2007, when 1,176 women and girls appeared at Rainbo Centres in Freetown, Kenema and Bo, 2,235 clients sought help and assistance in 2008 - an increase of over 6%.

The main clients of Rainbow Centres are 11-15. Though the youngest client to access the centres services was 1 year, one month old at the time of the reported incident.

Twelve percent (149) of clients were pregnant as a result of the rape, with the youngest pregnant client being 12 years old.

Sexual violence (rape) is a dangerous way of passing on sexually transmitted infections.

According to Rainbo statistics sixty-five percent (806) of the new clients arrived at the centers' already showing signs of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

At the recent workshop held at the Hill Valley Hotel on Friday, October 16, Mrs. Amie Kandeh (International Rescue Committee) tried passionately to explain why Rape should not just be treated as another run of the mill criminal occurrence. It is an affront to every woman's basic Human Rights.

Rape is not really about sex at all.

Sex, normally, is a form of intimate human communication shared between consenting adults. Rape is the forced imposition of one human upon another to satisfy their own bestial urges. Rape against a child or minor is an especially heinous offence.

But it appeared from discussion at the workshop - that our society is yet to recognize the seriousness of the crime - especially against minors.

Only 25 of the 2,235 cases reported at a Rainbow Centre (2008) were successfully prosecuted; in many cases communities fail to take action on these crimes against the dignity of women.

Ms. Kandeh pointed out that Gender Based Violence is not just a crime of the poor and disadvantaged but affects women of all classes and backgrounds - she admitted that she, herself, had been a victim of an abusive spouse. Both of them were well educated she noted; but the palpable sense of fear she had when living with a man who physically abused her was real to her.

Ms. Kandeh called on all media practitioners present to mark the Days of Action' November 25 to December 8 which include World Aids Day and Human Rights Day, share information with their communities and awaken awareness of the Crimes of Gender Based Violence and Rape.

Facts About Gender Based Violence

Gender-based violence both reflects and reinforces inequities between men and women and compromises the health, dignity, security and autonomy of its victims. It encompasses a wide range of human rights violations... Any one of these abuses can leave deep psychological scars, damage the health of women and girls in general, including their reproductive and sexual health, and in some instances, results in death.” - the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 1

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive public health and human rights problem throughout the world. Anyone can experience GBV, but women and girls are affected more frequently than men and boys.

Rape has been defined as a crime against humanity2, and the damage done by all forms of GBV is profound and requires attention across sectors. Medical and public health organisations, humanitarian aid organisations, United Nations (UN) agencies, governments and private donors can and must cooperate to eradicate GBV.

GBV includes:

·           Rape and sexual assault

·           Domestic violence

·           Coercive and exploitative sex

·           Sex trafficking

·           Traditional practices harmful to women

·           Forced pregnancy or sterilization Priorities for Action

All GBV survivors are entitled to appropriate care including:

·           Emergency contraception (EC) to prevent pregnancy

·           Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to minimise HIV transmission

·           Treatment for STIs Care of wounds and injuries

·           Counselling and other psychosocial support

·           Collection of forensic evidence, with consent of survivor

·           Referral to legal and social support services within the community

Communities can work together to prevent and address gBv through:

·           Involvement of women in settlement planning and resource distribution

·           Identifying individuals or groups that may be at higher risk of GBV, such as single female-headed households and unaccompanied minors

·           Education of community members, especially those in influential positions, to reduce the social acceptance of GBV

·           Ensuring appropriate and accessible legal and social support services as well as informing the displaced community of the location and availability of these services