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1 November, 2007

 

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Link to Full Report:

http://web.amnesty.org:80/library/index/engafr510052007

 

Sierra Leone

Getting Reparations Right for Survivors of Sexual Violence

I Introduction

Six years after the end of the conflict in Sierra Leone, little has been done to ensure that survivors of sexual violence receive justice, acknowledgement of their suffering, or full, meaningful and effective reparations. The unimaginable brutality of violations committed against up to a third of Sierra Leone’s mostly rural women and girls has been well documented; however the government has failed to effectively address the physical, psychological and economic impact of these crimes on the survivors. Without justice, recognition of the crimes or effective programmes to ensure their rehabilitation, without help to rebuild their lives or steps being taken to ensure that they are protected from future crimes, the suffering of the women and girls continues.(1)

Amnesty International interviewed women and girls who have employed many strategies to survive, both during the conflict and in its aftermath. For them, sexual violence was not a single event but a violation that has continued in the absence of comprehensive measures to deal with it. Along with the sexual violence, many identified themselves as former ‘rebel wives’, which also contributed to isolation and exclusion. As a result, many have had difficultly accessing food, shelter, work and healthcare. The continuing discrimination they have faced has impeded their reintegration into the community.

These women and girls expressed a desire for justice and meaningful reparations not out of revenge but simply to enable them to become economically independent and begin to re-establish their lives free from fear, stigma and discrimination.

A reparations programme recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in its 2004 report includes specific measures for victims of sexual abuse. This provides the government with new opportunities to ensure that victims can finally begin to address the damage that has been done to them. Lessons learned from efforts at reintegration reveal that the needs of women and girls have not been adequately met.(2) These lessons must be incorporated into the reparations programme, which requires the active participation of its beneficiaries if it is going to be designed to meet their needs.

In order to address the complex social and individual impact of sexual abuse, the reparations must be provided in a context that seeks to prevent future violence, addresses the deep-seated discrimination against women, promotes equality and improves women’s status.

All victims and survivors of crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws are entitled to justice and reparations. This report focuses specifically on reparations for survivors of sexual abuse, which mainly affects women and girls from rural areas in Sierra Leone. Amnesty International examines the social and individual effects of sexual violence, the failure of the government to provide measures to address its impact, including justice and reparations, and the need for the government to implement a comprehensive and effective reparations programme to get reparations right for victims of sexual violence.

Link to Full Document:

http://web.amnesty.org:80/library/index/engafr510052007





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