By Foday Moriba Conteh
As child-led Civil Society Organizations in the country held a peaceful protest on the 22ndJune 2020,to express their indignation over an alleged rape of a five-year-old girl in Freetown, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Priscilla Schwartz in addressing the issue and trying to cool down the tempers of the protesters at her office in Freetown, called on the Government of Sierra Leone to develop a Criminal Justice Policy.
According to her, the Criminal Justice Policy will provide guidance to criminal justice officials in order to unearth the problems associated with rape and find possible ways to tackle those problems within our society in order to give undiluted justice to victims of sexual offences in the country.
She described the alleged rape of the five-year-old girl as a sad moment for Sierra Leone as a nation furthering that upon all the efforts being made by the Government of Sierra Leone to combat rape in the country, rape cases continue to skyrocket in the country.
The Justice Minister applauded the courage of members of the various child-led Civil Society Organizations that braved it out to stage the peaceful protest, adding that they have really demonstrated patriotism by showing concerns for the rights of women and girls in the country.
Dr. Priscilla Schwartz noted that recently Parliament enacted the Sexual Offences Acts into strong laws to ensure that the perpetrators of rape face life imprisonments and that even if the court cannot found perpetrators for rape they will be sent to prison for aggravated assault.
She expressed dissatisfaction over the issue stating how the Police did not inform her about the alleged rape of the five-year-old girl and only came to know about the matter only on Social Media pointing out that she will ensure that there is a proper channel of information dissemination in the future.
The Minister also disclosed that the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice has set up a special individual to serve as Coordinator to be responsible for the investigation of rape cases furthering how her Office will also continue to work in the interests of all Sierra Leoneans in order to eradicate this bad menace in society maintaining that justice is not about the law but justice is what the people fight for.
Presenting a position paper on behalf of the child-led Civil Society Organizations, Executive Director of Kids Advocacy Network (KAN), Edmond Alim Fornah, stated that it contains issues of alleged multiple rapes in the past that were not treated justly also highlighting the death of the five year old ,Khadija Saccoh, calling for immediate action to be instituted for justice to prevail.
He said they are addressing his Excellency the President, Julius Maada Bio and also the First Lady, the Government and People of Sierra Leone, the United Nations and the International Community and all Human Rights and Civil Society Organizations that enough is enough.
He also called on Child led Organisations, Women Groups, Civil Society Organisations, in Sierra Leone through the Kid’s Advocacy Network to offer solace and support to victims of rape and another Gender Based Violence
He disclosed that they as an institution are deeply concerned with the increase in sexual assault and rape cases.
He added that, according to an autopsy report which confirmed that they young girl died as a result of rape, they are therefore seeking justice for the victim stating that the perpetrators must be held accountable.
He called on the Police to mount a thorough investigation into the matter underscoring that there should be no discrimination in dealing with rape cases in the country.
He also called for the setting up of a Special Court to deal with rape cases and said that the Government needs a sound national strategic plan on ending Gender Based Violence as well as the establishment of a forensic lab so that tests could be conducted and rape cases ascertained.
Executive Director of Dalvina Children’s Foundation, Khadijatu Dalvina Bangura,in an exclusive interview said her organization is focusing on child protection and for the past years they have been working in the interests of children, adding that when they received the news, as an organization of the alleged rape of a five-year-old girl in Freetown she described the act as inhumane. She revealed that their activism goes beyond influencing policies and extends towards spreading the message across that such actions against women and girls are inhumane further affirming that rape must stop now.
She said that Sierra Leoneans are calling on the Government to take the necessary action to see that the perpetrator (s) face (s) justice and give closure to the family.
“Whilst guilt will not bring back the child, but serious action, by way of punishment for this action will send the signal that all cases of rape will face the same fate,” she maintained.
Aminata S.F Conteh, one of the Big Sister empowerment show contestants, who was also part of the protest, disclosed that the issue of rape is not a concern for only the Government but for every meaningful Sierra Leonean, adding that for the past years she has been working in the interests of children especially on their wellbeing.
She said that even with a lot of efforts made in eradiating rape in the country like the launching of the ‘Hands of Our Girls’ ,rape continues to be on the increase which she described as very worrisome.
She called on the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure that there is justice towards the alleged rape of a five-year-old girl, Khadija Saccoh, and other rape cases in the country.
