By Millicent Senava Mannah
In observance of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Caritas Freetown, in collaboration with the Community of Practice and with funding from Civil Peace Service Agiamondo, organized an impactful Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Gender Justice. The event, themed: “Time to Act”, was held on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at the Gateway Evangelical Church Hall in Jui.
The dialogue brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, service providers and community leaders to address the pressing issues surrounding SGBV and to promote gender justice. Eliza Sillah, one of the key organizers, emphasized that the purpose of the session was to foster constructive dialogue between stakeholders and service providers, ensuring strong commitment to ending violence, especially against women and girls.
“We need to work together to stop violence. It is essential to create a system where responsibilities and commitments are clearly defined,” said Eliza Sillah, urging participants to make tangible commitments toward the fight against gender-based violence.
Samuel Byrne, Chairman of the Community of Practice, who also chaired the event, underscored the importance of collective action. “The conversation today highlights the need for understanding the issues affecting our communities and working together to find sustainable solutions,” Samuel Byrne remarked.
Tobias Grosse from Civil Peace Service Agiamondo highlighted the urgency of addressing both physical and emotional violence in relationships. He shared a staggering statistics: a woman dies every ten minutes worldwide as a result of sexual and gender-based violence. He encouraged attendees to envision a world free from such violence and led a reflective exercise, encouraging participants to imagine a future where all individuals are treated with love and respect.
Keynote speaker, Derick Peter, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer, reaffirmed the commitment to safeguarding the rights of women and girls. He emphasized the importance of rehabilitating victims and reintegrating them back into society through programs such as the Rehabilitation Center for SGBV survivors. “A real man does not commit violence against a woman,” Derick Peter declared, urging men to demonstrate respect and care for women. He also called on women to speak out against sexual and gender-based violence.
Rita K. Foday, representing the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education, addressed the prevalence of violence in schools and the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to create safe spaces for girls. She stressed the critical need to tackle violence in educational settings to ensure the safety and well-being of young girls.
Mohamed S. Kamara, Outreach Officer at the Legal Aid Board, called for justice for women and girls, urging families and communities not to compromise on cases of violence. He emphasized that such acts are crimes and should be treated as such by authorities.
Aminata Mansaray, representing the Polio Sisters Development Organization, took the opportunity to raise concerns for people with special needs. She advocated for greater respect for individuals with disabilities and stressed the need for men to avoid committing violence against women.
The dialogue concluded with a renewed call to action from all stakeholders, reaffirming the importance of continued collaboration to end sexual and gender-based violence in Sierra Leone. Participants left the event more determined to contribute to building a safer, more just society for all.
