By: Saidu Jalloh
The Ministry of Social Welfare Government of Sierra Leone, joined other ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as national and international institutions, to launch and sign the National Referral Protocol on Sexual and #genderbasedviolence at State House in Freetown on Thursday, August 8th, 2024.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Social Welfare Honourable Mrs. Melrose Karminty lamented that despite the numerous policies and legislation already put in place to tackle this pressing issue of sexual and gender-based violence, there are still emerging challenges that demand our immediate attention.
The Honourable Minister said that the introduction of the National Referral Protocol serves as a comprehensive framework designed to provide a clear pathway for reporting and service provision. This protocol, she said, aims at streamlining the process of seeking help and justice for survivors while ensuring a coordinated response for relevant stakeholders.
She furthered that her ministry is concerned about the rising incidence of sexual and gender-based violence, especially in schools and our communities, adding that violence against women and girls continues to exist in our communities under the guise of adhering to negative social norms and practices that affect women and girls inevitably.
She said that given the key mandate of her ministry, they seek to empower and transform the lives of vulnerable and less privileged persons, families, and groups, including young people, women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
She informed the gathering that her ministry is currently reviewing the #Disability Act of 2011, which has elements for the protection of women and girls with disabilities, ensuring their protection against violence and abuse at all times. She said that they are at a high risk of #SGBV and face serious barriers to accessing services. She further disclosed that it may interest us to note that those of our women with disabilities have ‘night husbands’ who fail to bear the responsibility of caring for these women and girls when they have impregnated them forcefully, and most times these women find it difficult to report these cases.
“𝐀𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 National Referral Protocol 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬”, 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫.
The Honorable minister committed her ministry to holding sessions with them and sensitizing them on the referral pathway. The Minister also took the opportunity to inform the gathering that she recently launched the National Action Plan Against #Trafficking In Persons, Especially Women and Children (2024–2028), which was developed with a thorough implementation plan with the aim of protecting women and girls from being trafficked and also for the provision of services for them.
She further said that, “𝐦𝐲 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐑𝐏.”
She said that their commitment to preventing and addressing sexual and gender-based violence is unwavering, and the implementation of this protocol marks a significant step forward in their collective efforts to create a safer and more just society for all.
She said that by establishing a robust referral system that connects #survivors with essential services such as medical care, counseling, legal support, and other forms of assistance, they are reinforcing their dedication to supporting those affected by these heinous crimes.
The Honorable Minister urged all individuals, organizations, and institutions across #Sierra Leone to familiarize themselves with the National Referral Protocol and actively participate in its implementation, adding that together we can build a society where survivors of sexual and gender-based violence are met with empathy, support, and access to the resources they need to heal and seek justice.
She concluded by urging all and sundry to commit themselves to upholding the dignity and rights of every individual in our nation, assuring that through their collective action and unwavering solidarity, they can create a future where sexual and gender-based violence is eradicated and all members of society can live free from fear and harm.
