Violence against Women Activism
It is so good to know that people indeed care about women in a country that is still struggling to be free of injustices and an irrational fear of change. So many movements that advocate for women’s rights have sprung up one popular one being International Rescue Committee (IRC).
The IRC, an advocate for women’s and children’s rights is currently on a sixteen day activism, not only to educate and inform people, mostly women and children on their rights, but also on a global scale in campaigning to raise awareness on the injustice of violence against women and girls and a call to all to take action.Â
Every day in Sierra Leone, women and girls live in fear of being raped, physically and emotionally abused, forced into early marriage, or forced into Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The war in Sierra Leone officially ended in 2002, but for most women and girls, sadly, they are still living in fear of brothers, fathers and partners.
“In 2009 the IRC supported rape crisis centres known as Rainbow Centres to provide direct services to over 800 rape victims of which 80% were children under the age of 15. In addition, over 1,500 cases of domestic violence were reported to the Sierra Leone Police.
The war against women has still not ended despite many calls and moves for emancipation. Women and children still remain the weaker and vulnerable sex despite the fact that nowadays most women are the breadwinners in the family; despite the fact that amidst the global crisis where our ‘gallant’ men are losing their jobs, with not much income coming through, it is women who make a way where there seems to be none, who even uses what she has to get what she wants. Alas but what does one get for all this effort, but violence against women!
Interestingly the IRC is currently celebrating with the women and men that contribute to a Sierra Leone free of violence and is calling on others to make a move to stop violence against women and girls. Some people tend to forget the fact that we all have to contribute in one way or the other and not just point fingers or give pointers. A good movement this is, as it prompts people to not only care, but to care enough to make a difference, to make a change. We all have the responsibility to ensure that every Sierra Leonean, including women and girls, are given a chance to live a healthy and safe life. Gender- based violence could happen to you, it could happen to me. It’s nothing to sigh over, it’s something to act about and there’s no better time than now!
Sierra Leone is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), conventions that include clauses that protect women and girls from violence and abuse. There are also three Sierra Leonean local laws entitled the ‘Gender Justice Acts’ (The Domestic Violence, Registration of Customary Marriages and Divorce and the Devolution of Estate Acts 2007). Staunchly said it appears that the key people like the courts and health personnel responsible for the implementation do not really believe in these laws and one wonders why? One thing that comes to mind is the fact that they just ‘talk’ to save face which dangerously impedes development and growth in the movement.
The government needs to make women and children a priority. They must be able and willing to consign additional assets to protect them. Having a couple of laws implemented signals progress but more needs to be done. The government also needs to ensure that there is equal access to justice free from terrorization, pressure, threats and manipulation because the movement can only succeed when there’s a clear field.
A worrying movement, FGM policies must be put in place to address such issues that leave most women scarred and traumatized for life. The government must show love for its people, its nurturers, its vision, its women, its children. Perpetrators must be brought to justice.
The people of Sierra Leone must be fully informed and educated on the dangers of violence especially against women. One thing that one notices in daily life is the fact that most people don’t really talk about serious issues rather they prefer to leave things as they are for fear of shaking the nest a nest of inequality and injustice that women are forced to lie in. It is disheartening to know that most women who suffer abuse are often blamed and ostracized from society. People need to show some love to victims in these situations, challenge men who use violence to control women. People need to care enough to stop this injustice because Sierra Leone is rapidly losing its nurturers, its mother, its women. One and all must work together not only to stop violence against women but for the general good of all most principally Sierra Leone.
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