By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
At the end of a two-day Regional Consultations with Traditional and Faith Leaders on the 18th of April 2024 in Freetown, the organization UN Women has urged Sierra Leonean Religious and Cultural Leaders to Collaborate with the Government, UN Agencies, International Partners, Civil Society Organizations, and the corporate sector to establish a safer Sierra Leone.
A press statement issued by the mission at the end of the meeting tasked the stakeholders present to promote equality and the sanctity of life across their communities, including the pulpit, local courts, cultural society forums, schools, public places, and other public platforms. It urged religious and cultural Leaders to lead by example by demonstrating a strong commitment to ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Sierra Leone through actions.
The program leverages existing linkages, builds and strengthens partnerships of traditional and religious leaders with the relevant African Union Commission and ECOWAS directorates, and CSOs on ongoing campaigns and other advocacy initiatives on ending child marriage, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and other harmful practices.
It urged the stakeholders to incorporate messages against violence and harmful practices in religious and cultural education to empower communities with knowledge. Also, religious centres and cultural spaces are to serve as safe havens to encourage survivors to come forward and ensure confidentiality, and moral and psychosocial support.
The mission wants stakeholders to support spaces that work to challenge gendered social norms whilst also recognizing women as leaders and strategic partners in national development.
The statement pointed out that the Family Support Unit, One Stop Centres, and Rainbo Centres are collaborating to provide medical treatment, counseling, and legal and psychosocial support for survivors. It stated that 62% of women aged 15 to 49 in Sierra Leone report having experienced physical and sexual violence, 60% of ever-married women aged 15 to 49 have experienced spousal physical, sexual, or emotional violence, 83% of women have undergone FGM, and 86.5% of children aged 1 to 14 years, experience some form of violent discipline in their households.
It highlighted key challenges such as underreporting, legal enforcement, cultural norms, and limited access to services, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas. It stated that violence against women and girls knows no distinction based on age, ethnicity, or social background, saying it lurks in the shadows of homes, businesses, workplaces, and communities of which Sierra Leone, like many other nations, continues to deal with that epidemic.
“We see it at all levels and strata of society. Religious and Traditional Leaders wield immense influence in our communities. They are more than just custodians of culture and faith; they are moral compasses, directing their followers to justice, compassion, and love. It is time to use this influence for the greater benefit,” part of the statement reads.
The traditional and faith leaders committed to using their platform for public education and to raise awareness that violence against women is a violation of human rights equip communities with the knowledge to recognize signs of abuse and support survivors. They reiterated their commitment to empower women and girls with information so that they know their rights and break free from the chains of silence.
UN Women is an entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
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