Rape on the increase

Rape and other forms of sexual abuse are becoming more common in Sierra Leone, and greater numbers of young victims are reporting their experience to the authorities, Gladys Brima, one of the founding members of a recently established Women’s Help Line (WHL), told IRIN on Thursday. “Rape is a hidden thing in our society, although recent reports indicate it is on the increase particularly amongst young girls,” Brima said. The WHL, a collaborative body of concerned NGOs aims to document all violence and abuse against women and take action against the perpetrators, Brima said. Volunteers operate out of established health clinics and hospitals nationwide. They offer trauma counselling and if necessary, medical attention to victims. Reports of the incident are then passed on to the local police for investigation. Before the war rape was not a big problem in Sierra Leonean society but now the war is over it is still continuing, according to Brima. “The war has contributed to the increase but it has become more generalised, it’s not just the RUF (Revolutionary United Front),” she noted. Gang rape is also more common, but it is often very difficult to find out exactly who committed the crime, she said. Edward Nahim, the official government psychiatrist in charge of all mental health facilities in Sierra Leone, agrees that there has been a general increase in cases of reported rape in the civilian population. “As a result of the war rape has become more generalised and mainly within the 12-25 age group,” he told IRIN on Thursday. “Many others go unreported,” he added, “but we have no idea of numbers.” Another form of violence against young girls and women, which is not quite rape, takes place in refugee and displaced persons camps, Nahim said. It includes “selling your body for services,” such as protection or food. WHL, a UN Mission in Sierra Leone initiative, was officially launched on 5 July.