Amnesty International

Sierra Leone-Double Victimisation: Some Women are Punished for Suffering Domestic Violence

“I had five children with my former husband who died in the war and now one with my new husband. Since we have been together my new husband has been neglecting the children and all he wants is sex. I don’t want to have sex because I am a new mother and I am tired. …. I really did not know what to do. My family is not around as most died in the war and everyone else in the community, including the Chief, is advising me to just sit tight. They warned me not to go to the police about my husband raping me.”
- A woman in Makeni town, Bombali district.

In rural Sierra Leone, where 80% of the population live, only customary law is recognized. Sierra Leonean customary law forms part of the common law and is largely unwritten. Customary law allows men to chastise their wives under certain circumstances.

Village chiefs are traditionally the first point of contact outside the family on matters of domestic violence against women perpetrated by a husband or male relative. Chiefs, unaware of the criminal nature of these abuses are reluctant to punish perpetrators, believing that this would bring disharmony to the community and leave women without any financial support.

To add to this is the government’s reluctance to interfere - reinforcing the belief that the state has no business in family and community affairs. But it is the government’s responsibility to protect women from this human rights abuse.

The unwillingness by the state and chiefs to pursue justice for women creates a culture of impunity. With nowhere to turn, women are simply forced to accept domestic violence, and give up demanding justice or protection.

The government must provide paralegal and legal aid to women and punish chiefs when they make illegal rulings against women.

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