Sierra Leone Declares Rape ‘National Emergency,’ Perpetrators to Face Life Imprisonment

• Sierra Leone Declares Rape ‘National Emergency’

Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio has officially declared rape and sexual violence a ‘national emergency’ following a series of cases involving minors.

The earlier brutal rape of a five-year-old girl by her 28-year-old relative which led to the crushing of her spine in Sierra Leone brought about a massive campaign against rape and sexual violence. This further agitated the President to declaring rape a national emergency, emphasizing that those convicted of sexual offences, involving minors will be punishable by life imprisonment.

The President, who made this known in a Keynote Address, said hundreds of cases of rape and sexual assault against women, girls and babies as young as three months are reported each month in Sierra Leone.

Also, he said that 70 per cent of rape victims are under the age of 15. The current law carries a maximum penalty of 15 years, and just a handful of cases have been duly prosecuted.

Noting further that thousands of rape cases are unreported, owing to a culture of silence, adding that the move is to increase awareness and bring perpetrators of such acts to book, as they face life in prison.

“With this declaration, I have also directed the following: that all government hospitals must provide free medical treatment and certificate to every victim of rape and sexual abuse,” he said.

Bio, further said the national emergency move against sexual violence will involve addressing gaps in the nation’s Sexual Offences Act of 2012. He also ordered the creation of a special police division for rape and sexual violence against minors.

President Bio said his government would work with civil societies and development partners to improve laws against sexual violence and other gender violence.

Again, he called on citizens to cooperate with the government in the fight to restore the “pride and dignity” of women and girls in the country.