The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law – Sierra Leone (CARL-SL) has welcomed the enactment of the Sexual Offences Act 2012.
In a Press Release issued yesterday, the organisation said that it had called on Government in March to step up efforts on enacting both the Sexual Offences and Legal Aid Bills.
“The fact that both bills have now been passed into law is significant, and CARL-SL would like to commend the Parliament of Sierra Leone for its timely enactment of the Sexual Offences Act,” the release states.
CARL-SL also commends the efforts of the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, particularly the Minister, Steve Gaojia for demonstrating a “firm commitment” to combating sexual-based crimes in Sierra Leone.
The release says that “sexual crimes against vulnerable persons are a chronic concern in a country where the rape of young girls, teenage pregnancy, botched abortions, and wife battering are regrettably commonplace,” adding that “in this area, far too many complaints are either delayed inexcusably, or worse, left uninvestigated.”
CARL-SL also notes that while in the past an impediment to fostering accountability for sexual crimes had been the practice of out-of-court settlements, the Sexual Offences Act now imposes sanctions on persons who facilitate such settlements.
CARL-SL says under the new Act, family members and Government authorities found engaging in such practices stand to face prison terms of not less than two and five years respectively, pointing out that the move represents an important step forward in ending impunity in the area of sexual-based crimes.
According to the release, the Act outlines additional general provisions related to offences involving mental defectives and children; sexual harassment; incest; human trafficking; pornography; and prostitution, among others. It notes that Section 25 of the Act states that no person below the age of 18 years can give consent to sexual intercourse.
CARL-SL says that broadly speaking, the act makes provisions for stiffer penalties against sexual offenders. It adds that the passing of the Sexual Offences Act is a major step in a long, continuous struggle for combating crimes of a sexual nature.
It notes however that as with many good laws in Sierra Leone, the challenge now will be the effective implementation of the Act, adding it will partner with other civil society groups to continue to push for and monitor the implementation of the Sexual Offences Act to ensure Sierra Leoneans benefit from the protection guaranteed in the law.
