The recent rise in Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases in Sierra Leone has led to widespread calls for President Julius Maada Bio to declare a state of emergency on SGBV.
Citizens and advocacy groups are demanding urgent actions from the government to protect vulnerable citizens, especially women and children, as the country faces a growing crisis of domestic violence.
Recently, Sierra Leone witnessed the deaths of two women to SGBV: Sia Kamara was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, while Monica Yealia Ghaliwa, a young mother, was reportedly subjected to brutal abuse leading to her death, the Sierra Leone Telegraph reported.
These incidents followed other tragic cases, which include the murder of 14-year-old Adama Bendu, who was raped and killed by her uncle, and the violent assault on university student Aminata Kargbo, by her partner, which left her in critical condition.
Activists are calling for stronger legal frameworks and stricter enforcement of existing laws against domestic violence.
Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Maada Bio, a vocal advocate for women’s rights, has also been urged to take more decisive action against the rise of SGBV.
The Rainbow Initiative, an organisation that combats SGBV in Sierra Leone, reported 2,561 cases of sexual and gender-based violence in 2023 alone. This number is, however, believed to be much higher due to underreported cases associated with domestic violence.
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