On the 23rd September 2021, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, moved a United Nation Resolution on sexual violence survivors, a historic feature that marks the first time in the history of United Nation General Assembly for sexual violence survivors to be on the agenda. The resolution was approved by 193 member states, thereby according Sierra Leone the lead nation that other countries should seek permission from if they wanted to introduce a resolution under that agenda item.
…His Excellency’s sponsored resolution of access to service for victims of sexual violence is absolutely commendable, but his administration – like all other governments – can only give meaning to it by ensuring that the required support is provided to key agencies established to respond to the justice, health and social needs of victims. As the saying goes, all justice is local. Now is the time for the Bio administration to walk the talk by empowering the Family Support Unit and other service delivery agencies in order to respond to the needs of victims of sexual and gender-based violence in Sierra Leone. Read the full article here
