Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone has a population estimated at 5.7 million (UN, 2009) with a total area of 71,740 sq km (27,699 sq miles). The capital is Freetown. The major languages are English, Krio (Creole language derived from English) and a range of African languages.

Sierra Leone is recovering from a 10-year civil war which ended in 2002. During the Sierra Leone civil war, sexual violence was used in a widespread and systematic way as a weapon, and women were raped in brutal ways. Despite progress made by the entry into force of the legal acts in 2007, high rates of sexual and gender-based violence, and domestic violence continue to be reported.

On a more positive note, Charles Taylor, former Liberian President was found guilty the 26th of April 2012 in the Special Court for Sierra Leone, of aiding and abetting 11 crimes, including murder, rape, sexual slavery, and forced labor. This judgement sets a positive precedent for the international prosecution of war crimes as well as the ability of victims to access justice.

Sierra Leone ratified The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on November 11, 1988
Sierra Leone adopted a National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) in March 2010
Sierra Leone does not have a UN peacekeeping mandate

Sources:BBC; Amnesty International; UNIFEM

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February 18, 2013 (Cocorioko)
SIERRA LEONE: Sierra Leone's First Northern Region Female Mayor Talks On Plans For A 'Great Makeni City' Sierra Leone's First Northern Region Female Mayor Talks on Plans For a ‘Great Makeni City'
February 11, 2013 (Cocorioko)
SIERRA LEONE: Women's Empowerment…."Dont Push Us Around" Women in Sierra Leone are stepping on center stage in a steady but slow pace to play their part as equal partners in national development. That movement, precedes roles by leaders the likes of educationist Dr. Talabi Lucan, Chief Justice, Hawa Tejan-Jalloh; Chief Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Christiana Thorpe; university professor and former Vice Presidential candidate, Dr. Kadi Sesay and women's right advocate, Nemata Majeks-Walker, to mention a few. But women are far from accomplishing their target for equality. More has to be done to pave the path. Women lag far behind men in decision making institutions, employments and access to education. This trend must change fast.
January 12, 2013 (Washington Post)
SIERRA LEONE: Women, Targets in Sierra Leone's Decade of Hell, Now Face a Different Kind of Civil War Tears stream down Fatmata's face as she shuffles into the police station courtyard, alone and doubled over in pain after being held down and beaten with a stick.
December 17, 2012 (Gant Daily)
SIERRA LEONE: Political Battle Wages on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Sierra Leone It is also quite common to see masked women (commonly called “Bondo devils”) in their traditional red and white, at political rallies and/or dancing for the president, a political party or a candidate. This indicates that secret societies are still a force to be reckoned with, and something political parties tamper with at their peril.
December 11, 2012 (Women's E news)
SIERRA LEONE: Bangura Rethinks U.N.'s Sex-Violence Patrol Zainab Bangura has taken over one of the United Nations' most thankless top positions: tackling a world's worth of horror stories as the secretary general's special representative on sexual violence in conflict.