By: Abu H. Kargbo
Community leaders, police officers, university administrators, students, and influential young people participated in a training organized by SEND Sierra Leone at the SLTU Hall in Makeni on Friday, 27th February 2026.
Jestina Juana, Gender Officer at SEND Sierra Leone and part of the four-year Building Respect for Anti-Violence (BRAVE) Project, explained that the training was prompted by findings showing poor handling and biased treatment of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases by service providers.
“This training is designed to awaken their minds and guide them through a survivor-centered approach,” Juana noted.
She emphasized that equipping service providers with proper skills is crucial to combating all forms of violence, the core objective of the BRAVE Project. Juana urged participants to apply the lessons learned in their respective fields.
“A professional and sensitive response will contribute to a more just and decent society,” she stressed, calling for concerted efforts across all sectors, including local communities, to address SGBV.
She further highlighted that neglecting SGBV issues could have long-term negative effects on society. The initiative aligns with recommendations from the *Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which emphasize preventing recurrence of factors that contributed to Sierra Leone’s 11-year civil conflict. Paragraph 344 of Volume 2, Chapter 3, Page 171 of the TRC report urges the government to implement obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and ensure that gender considerations are integrated into legislation and policies.
Beneficiaries of the training shared positive feedback. Hussein Roland Kabba, a nursing student at Ernest Bai Koroma University, said the training would have a significant impact on their future professional practice, particularly in handling SGBV cases encountered during hospital volunteer work.
Nancy Ulanda George, a Political Science and International Relations student at University of Makeni, stated that the training deepened her understanding of SGBV and highlighted the importance of community mobilization. “It’s important for us to tackle SGBV for a peaceful society where everyone can live safely and soundly,” she remarked.
Since its inception in 2024, the BRAVE Project has reached seven districts and ten universities, making significant strides in Sierra Leone’s fight against all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. The project is set to continue its work until completion in 2028.