SIERRA LEONE

"WE'LL KILL YOU IF YOU CRY"

Sexual Violence in the Sierra Leone Conflict

Printer-friendly version

GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS

DEFINITION OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, RAPE AND SEXUAL SLAVERY

I. SUMMARY

II. RECOMMENDATIONS

To the Government of Sierra Leone
To Members of the African Union and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
To Members of the International Community
To the Special Court for Sierra Leone
To the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
To the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)

III. METHODOLOGY

IV. BACKGROUND

The Civil War
Women and Girls under Sierra Leonean Law

The Sierra Leonean Legal system
Constitutional Status of Women
Marriage
Divorce and Death of Husband
Domestic Violence
Rape as a Crime under General Law
Prosecution of Sexual Violence under Customary Law

Discrimination against Women and Girls in Practice

Education
The Workplace
In the Political Arena
Harmful Traditional Practices and Their Impact on Women's and Girls' Health
Societal Attitudes to Sexual Violence against Women and Girls

V. SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS DURING THE CIVIL WAR

Prevalence of Sexual Violence during the War
Perpetrators

Rebel Forces
Pro-Government Forces
Peacekeeping Forces

Sexual Violence Committed by the Rebel Forces

"Virgination"-Targeting Young Girls
Rape Victims Subjected to Multiple Human Rights Abuses
Rape with Objects and Other Sexual Torture, including Sexual Mutilation
Sexual Violence with the Added Element of Violating Cultural Norms
Forced Pregnancies
Forced Abortion by West Side Boys
Rape by Female Combatant
Rape and Other Sexual Violence against Boys and Men by Male and Female Rebels
Abduction, Sexual Slavery, Forced Labor, and Conscription
RUF Officers' Responsibility for Sexual Violence

Sexual Violence Committed by the CDF
Sexual Violence Committed by International Peacekeeping Forces

VI. EFFECTS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Health
Stigmatization and Shame of Survivors

VII. INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PROTECTIONS AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Introduction
International Humanitarian Law
Sexual Violence as a Crime against Humanity
Human Rights Law
Gender Jurisprudence for Crimes of Sexual Violence
Command Responsibility

VIII. TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE MECHANISMS FOR SIERRA LEONE

The Lomé Amnesty
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Special Court for Sierra Leone
Principle of Universal Jurisdiction

IX. THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

National Response

Climate of Impunity
Corrupt and Ineffective Judiciary
Need for Law Reform
The Sierra Leone Police

The International Response

The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration program
United Kingdom
United States
European Union
United Nations
World Bank

X. CONCLUSION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS