By: Mohamed Jalloh
Her excellency Madam Fatima Bio has urged the United States of America to tie aid packages to a country`s robust stance in its anti-sexual and gender based violence efforts. She made the statement whiles addressing a global audience on sexual and gender based violence at the margins of the United Nations General assembly in New York.
According to her, even if the United Nations endorsed an issue, if the united states don`t place a stamp on it, the question in discussion won`t have a global impact, noting further that if the world doesn’t help Africa solve its problems, then these problems will affect the entire world due to the global inter-connectivity of the human race.
Madam Bio impressed on the audience that no nation will develop if it does not empower its women and went on to highlight Sierra Leone`s shining example in championing the fight against rape and sexual violence leading to the adoption of two United Nations resolutions which was supported by 153 countries.
She told the audience that president Julius Maada Bio is the head of the task force against rape which clearly shows the importance Sierra Leone attaches to the fight against the menace which has led to the creation of a special court for rape and the enactment of a punitive legislation prescribing a jail term of not less than 15 years for perpetrators.
Madam Bio said personal healing is crucial in ensuring the rehabilitation of rape victims and reveals that November 18 has being set aside by the United Nations to reflect on the ills of gender and sexual based violence and to allow for personal restoration of dignity to rape victims.
She was also proud to inform the audience about the UN resolution that was adopted to ensure rape gets justice through the funding of legal fees and to allow for adequate rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Her excellency reveals that her work in women`s empowerment is disliked by the main opposition in Sierra Leone because of the gains and turn around she has attained in the fight against rape and gender based violence.
“It’s better to be remembered doing something than doing nothing”, she told the audience.
She said there are UN treaties criminalizing torture and genocide and went further to state that it is worthwhile for the UN to adopt an internationally binding treaty criminalizing rape and gender based violence
