By George M.O. Williams
Social media violence against public – facing women has been on the rise with targeted effort to push them out of the key public space and to censor or diminish their voices both online and offline, according to ‘Threats Against Public-Facing Women in Sierra Leone’ report which was launched by Sierra Leone Association of Women in Journalism (SLAWIJ).
In the regard, the Society for Democratic Initiatives (SDI) with support from Internews Sierra Leone will be providing free legal services to public-facing women who are victims of harassment, violence and intimidation.
Their support is part of the WIRED -Sierra Leone project which aims to enhance the participation and protection of women civil society activists, journalists and peacebuilders in Sierra Leone, where women are playing a central role in conflict prevention and transitional processes.
It should be noted that the Sierra Leone Association of Women in Journalism (SLAWIJ) launched the report on the threats against public-facing women in Sierra Leone. The report characterized violence against public-speaking women including women leaders, women human rights defenders (HRDs) and women journalists.
Part of SDI Legal team, Mam Amie Jobe Esq. said the support from Internews will also focused on building the relationship between their institution and other partners, thus asked public-facing women to speak-out or report cases of harassment, intimidation and violence.
She emphasized that institutions whose course are related in ending harassment will also be capacitated on handling and investigating reported cases of harassment and intimidation,and called on the Government of Sierra Leone and civil society organizations to advocate for the passing of laws and policies that would protect women from online and offline threats.
“SDI is also advocating for more awareness of the available legislation that seeks to protect women against threats and violence through media platforms and training. Train law enforcement office on the relevant laws that protect public-facing women from online and offline threats and violence and on how to handle such cases when reported to them. This training would involve how to conduct such investigation and preserve evidence and derives from the investigations,” she said.
SDI urges civil society organization to come together to educate, advocate, promote and protect on the threats faced by women especially Public -Facing Women.
The report indicates that an overwhelming growth of social media in Sierra Leone in recent years (including an estimated 21.4% increase in the number of active social media users, between January 2020 and January 2021 alone) has opened a new “faceless forum” for violence in the country – including violence and harassment against women and girls.