SIERRA LEONE: In Sierra Leone, Gender Minister Urges Women to Expose SGBV Perpetrators

The Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children's Affairs, Hon. Moijue Kaikai has called on women at community level to put hands on deck and collaboratively alert the police and his ministry on issues bordering on sexual and domestic violence so that the perpetrators would be brought to book.

The Minister made this policy statement at the Gender and Security Sector Reform Training of Trainers at the District Council Hall in Bo City on Monday 1st July 2013.

Officially opening the two-day training workshop, the Minister said it will be prudent for women to be integrated into the security perspective at community level. He said his government considered the role of women as very important.

He described as shameful the occurrence of perpetrators of violence against women going unpunished, after destroying the future of their victims.

He expressed disappointment that the police and parents of the victims sometimes treat such matters with levity.

He cited an example in Pujehun wherein a 54 year old teacher sexually abused a young school girl and was granted bail by the police.

He disclosed that both the Family Support Unit (FSU) and the parents were so lenient with the perpetrator and the little girl ended up in the grave.

The minister called on all and sundry to desist from compromising with perpetrators of sexual and domestic violence so that the acts are eliminated.

Project Coordinator of the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), Anike Doherty said 30 female participants were selected from the 4 districts in the southern province for the training.

According to her, the inclusion of these women will improve access to security and justice at community level for boys, girls, women and elderly folks.

Project Consultant, Dr. Nana Pratt told our reporter in an exclusive interview that since the project stated, people are gradually becoming aware of security related issues at community level.