WUNRN
1 November, 2007
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Link to Full Report:
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:
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