By Hassan Gbassay Koroma
Stakeholders on Monday, July 8, met to discuss the way forward in the fight against sexual and gender based violence in the country. The town hall meeting was organised by the Minister of Information and Civic Education.
Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, said as a country, it is time to collaboratively stand and fight against sexual and gender based violence.
She cited that there are many rape cases in the country hence the need to raise a voice against it.
Inspector-General of Police, William Fayia Sellu said the police is working with other sectors, including the Rainbo Initiative Centre, to ensure that SGBV is stopped in the country and that what they do is to investigate and charge to court based on the evidence.
Minister of Health and Sanitation,Austin Demby, said SGBV is a very serious issue that affects women and girls, both physically and mentally.
He said that as a ministry that cares so much about sexual based violence,they have constructed one-stop centres in Freetown and other parts of the country to help respond to those cases.
He disclosed that in 2023, the ministry recorded over 1,500 reported cases, and that is why they are doing everything to ensure that GBV is stopped in the country.
Freetowm Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr said the issue for the rising cases in rape cases in Freetown is the lack of affordability of water, adding that many of the girls get abused when they go in search of water, especially at night.She said the Freetown City Council has embarked on a project to construct boreholes that will be man and operated by women.
In his presentation, the Executive Director of Rainbo Initiative, Daniel Kettor, presented that in 2023 to 2024, they conducted a survey on sexual based violence in the country, and one of their key findings is that those cases are influenced by social norms including custom and traditional beliefs and practices that play a significant role in shaping attitudes and , behaviours of communities.
He explains that ineffective support for SGBV survivors and their families in most communities is inadequate, leading to a lack of sustained structures and services.
He further presented that compromise on sexual matters is high, and that there is considerable awareness of SGBV risks among community members and others.
He recommended strengthening of community engagement, sustainable support system, justice, accountability, strengthening of data management systems, and many more.
According to him, their findings showed that, in 2023, Western Area Urban and rural districts recorded the highest reported cases of GBV to the total number of 1,094, Bo District recorded 400 cases, Kono 285 cases and others.
