CAHSec takes SGBV campaign to Tonkolili
A local Non-Governmental Organization in Makeni, Community Action for Human Security (CAHSec) has mounted a robust campaign to minimize Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the Tonkolili District. (Photo: Peter Conteh: Addressing pupils)
The campaign which started some 2 weeks ago targets pupils of various secondary schools in both the Kholifa Rowalla Chiefdom and Tena Chiefdom in Matotoka.
Speaking to pupils at the National Commercial Secondary School in Magburaka, the Governance Officer of CAHSec, Peter Conteh said the purpose of the campaign is to adequately explain the Sexual Offences Act of 2012 to pupils especially the girl child in the Tonkolili District. Peter emphasized that that that was the first time an organization is taking such sensitization to Tonkolili adding that at the end of the campaign, SGBV cases will not only reduce but lots of inhabitants of Tonkolili will be educated on the causes, effects and preventions of Sexual and Gender based violence.
According to the Governance officer, so far, over one thousand eight hundred pupils from various secondary schools in Tonkolili have been targeted. In each schools visited, Gender Rights Clubs in all schools visited and it is these clubs they will work with to further reach out to others. The rate of SGBV cases in Tonkolili is very alarming and if modalities are not put in place now to curtail t in time, Sierra Leone will not be able to attain the much trumpeted thirty percent quota for women at strategic positions in the country.
“We are targeting the pupils especially the girl child because the parents whom we have been targeting have somehow failed us. They are the ones that normally struck compromise with perpetrators of SGBV cases. Therefore, we are targeting those are who are potential victims.” he said
He explained that that because girls are not au fait with the Sexual Offences Act, they joined hands with their parents to compromise SGBV cases which in itself is a crime. But through this campaign, pupils will be aware of what is contained in it and they will be in a better position to reject and refuse any attempt to abuse them.
In his presentation to pupils at the National Commercial Secondary School in Magburaka, DPC 8997 Samuel Foday Sesay at the family Support Unit at the Magburaka Police Station thanked CAHSec for undertaking such a sensitization campaign to the Tonkolili District. He said the move to sensitize girls on SGBV issues in that part of the country is timely more so at time when SGBV issues are on the increase.
He educated the pupils both at the Missionary Church of Africa Secondary School and the National Commercial Secondary School in Magburaka on the stipulations of the Sexual Offences Act of 2012 highlighting the rights and responsibility of the child in curbing SGBV in Tonkolili.
“Through persistent sensitizations from the police and NGOs like CAHSEC, the awareness has been created among the general populace. Now cases SGBV are reported to the police and that shows that the people are having confidence and trust in the Sierra Leone police,” he said
He said the FSU in Magburaka have been receiving cases of SGBV cases which hey swiftly respond to by taking the appropriate action. He called on parents of SGBV victims to deviate from comprising SGBV cases and continue report such cases to all FSUs in the country.
Pupils from all schools visited expressed their appreciation for what they described as an ‘eye opener’ campaign which should be replicated to other part of the country. They promised to pass on the information to those not present.
By Santigie Sesay-FBC/Mass Comm. Intern
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