INTERVIEW: Life for Freetown’s street children

The aftermath of the civil war in Sierra Leone brought as much deprivation to its children as the war itself caused them agony. It is commonplace to children strewn on the streets of Freetown both during the day and at night. One agency that has been tending to these kids is Don Bosco Fambul, a German organisation. Politico sat down with its Programme Director Brother Lothar Wagner and first asked him for his assessment of the current situation of children and young people in Sierra Leone. Politico: How would you assess the current situation of children and young people in Sierra Leone? Brother Lothar: In March 2013 Don Bosco Fambul called public attention to the massive increase in the number of reported rape against girls and young women in Sierra Leone. Every day girls who have experienced the gravest forms of violence visit our Girls Shelter. Domestic violence, particularly against girls, is notably on the rise. These are alarming empirical data. The fact that a whole generation is brought up to accept this as normal must give us great cause for concern. This will surely lead to even greater social problems and unrest. Now is the time to act. Say “No” to violence when raising children, say “No” to rape and “No” to the exploitation of our children! We need an education based on care. Politico: Your organisation, Don Bosco Fambul, is usually associated with street children. What is the situation like in the streets of Freetown? Brother Lothar: Life in the streets of Freetown is full of violence and conflict. We observe that a growing number of increasingly young boys, under the age of 12 years are sent away by their families and end up in the streets. A lot of these children have also fallen victim to child-trafficking. Complete strangers, but also relatives, bring the children from large families living in the rural areas, to Freetown. For the most part, the child traffickers promise the families scholarships but as soon as the children arrive in Freetown they are exploited and forced to work for the perpetrators. Here, too, physical and psychological violence plays an important part. Currently a renowned female lawyer in Freetown has turned out to be one of the leading perpetrators. The Minister of Social Affairs and the police have been informed. On the streets we also note a rise in the number of children from Guinea who inevitably suffer from language difficulties. Politico: For years you have been criticising the role of the police, especially in your recent report on rape of minor you accused them of collusion with perpetrators. How well founded are these accusations. Brother Lothar: Yes, and sadly, we will have to continue doing so. Unfortunately some policemen seem to spend their nights literally chasing street children. As we talk now, a young boy is being operated on at the Emergency Hospital. Some two weeks ago, on the night of the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr or Pray Day, the boy and others were chased around “PZ”, in the city centre of Freetown, by policemen. Fleeing he fell into a water ditch and broke his leg. We have children who have to survive for days locked in police cells together with adults. We also have cases of street children being exploited by policemen. Four of our boys, who we were able to successfully reintegrate into their families, were robbed and beaten by policemen in Kissy. Two of them were subsequently locked in a police cell for two days, together with adults. We also have young men who are in jail due for petty crimes only because someone has used their influence against them. Politico: What is Don Bosco Fambul doing about it? Brother Lothar: We regularly report these cases of abuse to the "Complaint, Discipline, and Internal Investigation Department" at the police headquarters. There the cases are investigated. In most cases the incidents are deplored by leading police authorities and harsh action against criminal policemen is promised. However, most often, they never get beyond the level of good intentions. Nothing actually happens. The perpetrators remain in office and the victims and I are insulted and attacked in the streets by the very policemen implicated. This shows that there is not the least willingness to change. The government programme “Change of Attitude” has not yet reached the police, which is why improvements in child welfare are likely to take some time. Politico: Are the children and their families willing to testify against the police? Brother Lothar: Unfortunately, only a few of them feel able or willing to. On the one hand, there is no confidence in the police and so most victims resign to their fate. On the other hand, police investigations are often a mere waste of time and include constant harassment. First of all, there is always a “Police Medical Report” drawn up by one single doctor at the Connaught Hospital. Here the first hurdle arises for the victims: long waiting times while in pain and the cost of Le 25,000 which most victims cannot afford. This effectively prevents the prosecution of many of the perpetrators including policemen, and victims give in. It is here that the government must urgently take action! More doctors and free medical care for the victims are required! Politico: And how is rape dealt with? Brother Lothar: For example we submitted to the Ministry of Social Welfare four cases of manipulation of police investigations into cases of rape. Suspected perpetrators are still free and the victims have still not received justice. In one case the perpetrator is an influential politician and human rights activist who currently misses no opportunity to bring my employees and the whole establishment into disrepute. He illegally obtained access to the Girls Shelter. He writes letters to personalities, like the First Lady or to Government Ministers he is personally acquainted with, who he hopes will help him. He will not intimidate us! We wait for results. I am proud of my fellow-employees! We hope justice will be done. Politico: And how does Don Bosco Fambul help the victims? Brother Lothar: First, of course, we provide the children with shelter and security, medical care, food and clothing. We provide seriously traumatised children with counselling and therapy. We have a crisis intervention centre for girls who have experienced violence that is open around the clock. Professional social workers provide psychosocial care. Children can call us via our hotline 116 and receive advice and support. Thanks to Africell, Airtel and Comium who have made this important help line possible for the last three years. By the way, from the number of telephone requests for counselling we get it would seem that violence against children is on the rise, too. © Politico 20/08/13