By Bampia James Bundu
The Director General of the Gender Affairs ministry says about 67% of homes in Sierra Leone suffer from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) across the country. He said the situation is "alarming" and that SGBV cases are "criminal matters that should be treated with all seriousness".
Charles Vandi who was speaking at a one day dialogue forum to mark 16 days of activism on SGBV at British Council said his ministry had been involved in awareness raising campaigns on the issue across the country.
Vandi said his ministry had been able "to encourage people in the urban and rural areas who suffer SGBV attacks to report such matters to the police for investigation and prosecution". He said the ministry was yet to conduct another survey to gauge the present trends after "campaign and sensitisation undertaken by the ministry and CSOs".
He commended the organisers of the dialogue forum, Community Action to Restore Lives (CARL), for taking the lead in celebrating this year’s days of activism. He called on all Sierra Leoneans to join the campaign and end the abuse of women and girls.
The Executive Director of CARL, Madiana Samba said the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence was an international campaign to hold perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence accountable and to take "a common stance to eliminate the inhuman acts of gender violence and to remind states of their commitments to protect the rights of women and girls including their protection against violence worldwide".
She reminded all of the theme for this year: "From peace in the home to peace in the world", noting that the intention was to "challenge militarism and end violence against women".
She said the 16-day campaign focused on violence perpetrated by state actors using the threat or act of violence to maintain or attain power".
Fere Williams, representative of the Office of National Security (ONS), appealed to
Sierra Leoneans to "change their attitudes and perceptions towards women by learning to treat them with respect and dignity".
The Former President of Women’s Forum, Rosaline McCarthy, stated that the adverse effects of rape on girls had translated to the rise in teenage pregnancy in the country and called on the government to fight the "scourge".
(C) Politico 12/12/13
