Sierra Leone has sharply increased the minimum prison sentence for rape

Sep 23, 2019

This article is published in collaboration with Thomson Reuters Foundation trust.org.

A handout photograph taken in May 2008 and released to Reuters in London on May 26, 2008 by Save the Children, shows "Elizabeth", who says she was raped by 10 peacekeepers in the Ivory Coast in June 2007, aged 12 years old. Sexual abuse of children by aid workers and peacekeepers is rife and efforts to protect young people are inadequate, said a report published on Tuesday. The study by charity Save the Children UK said there were significant levels of abuse in emergencies, much of it unreported and unless the silence ended, attempts to stamp out exploitation would "remain fundamentally flawed". REUTERS/Brendan Bannon/Save the Children/Handout (IVORY COAST). NO COMMERCIAL OR BOOK SALES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. - GM1E45R0JSB01

The government in Sierra Leone have made important changes to sentences for sex offenders. Image: REUTERS/Brendan Bannon/Save the Children/Handout

Reuters Staff

Sierra Leone's parliament voted on Thursday to significantly increase prison sentences for rape, a move that follows the president's declaration earlier this year that sexual violence constituted a national emergency.

The new legislation sets a 15-year minimum sentence for rape, whereas 15 years was previously the maximum sentence for sex crimes.

Few cases of sexual violence are successfully prosecuted in Sierra Leone, however, part of what activists say is a wider problem of impunity for sexual offenders in many West African countries.

"Fighting sexual offences requires strong punitive measures," said Hindolo Moiwo Gevao, chairman of parliament's legislative committee. "It is necessary we set powerful examples in order to curb the problem."

President Julius Maada Bio declared a national emergency in February after police statistics showed reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence nearly doubling last year. One-third of those involved child victims.

The new law also guarantees free medical treatment for rape victims.

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