By Alhaji Haruna Sani
Save the Children International Sierra Leone (SCI-SL) brought together children with disabilities, their able-bodied peers, and representatives from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, to raise awareness on gender-based violence (GBV).
The event, held at the Family Kingdom Conference Hall on Aberdeen Beach, formed part of activities marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
In her opening remarks, SCI Advocacy and Communications Director, Esther Elliot-Nyuma, highlighted the importance of the event in driving awareness, inspiring policy reforms, and catalyzing actions to combat violence and discrimination against women and girls.
She noted that the program was guided by this year’s global theme: “UNiTE! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.” Elliot-Nyuma emphasized that GBV is a human rights violation demanding immediate collective action.
SCI’s Country Director, Patrick Analo, reaffirmed the organization’s steadfast commitment to addressing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), particularly against children. He commended panelists for their insightful contributions and urged adolescents to share the knowledge gained with their peers across the country.
Chief Inspector Lansana Tarawally from the Family Support Unit (FSU) of the Sierra Leone Police acknowledged the progress made in addressing SGBV through partnerships with institutions like SCI. However, he criticized the pervasive culture of compromising SGBV cases, which undermines justice.
He explained that the FSU’s role primarily involves forwarding cases to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for further action.
Adolescent representative Fatmata I. Kargbo spoke passionately about the psychological and social impacts of SGBV, including stigma and insecurity. She called for the integration of SGBV education into school curricula as either a standalone subject or a core topic.
Kargbo also urged greater support for marginalized groups and collective efforts to combat the menace.
Gloria Bayoh, Director of Gender and Children’s Affairs at the Human Rights Commission, traced the historical challenges of addressing violence against women and children. She emphasized the need for continuous engagement and encouraged adolescents to avoid harmful behaviors like bullying.
Musu Kenyeh Golley, Executive Director of the Deaf Women Advocacy Network, expressed gratitude to SCI for including women and girls with disabilities in the conversation. Through sign language, she highlighted the heightened vulnerability of women and girls with disabilities to violence due to social exclusion, communication barriers, and lack of support structures.
Golley decried the inaccessibility of justice for deaf survivors of violence and called for targeted policies to address their unique challenges.
The event culminated in a robust panel discussion featuring representatives from the Family Support Unit, Rainbow Initiative, Ministry of Social Welfare, Adolescent Network, and LAWYERS, a coalition advocating for the rights of women and children.
The panel addressed topics such as equipping children with tools to recognize and report GBV and fostering platforms for youth advocacy.
The impactful gathering not only created a safe space for children, including those with disabilities, to learn about GBV and their rights but also strengthened calls for inclusive policies and sustainable actions to eliminate violence against women and girls.
