The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) has on Thursday June 25, 2020 reminded the Government of Sierra Leone (GOSL) of its promise to set up a state-of-the-art forensic laboratory for efficient and reliable medical examination of alleged victims of sexual crimes to facilitate the prosecution of perpetrators of such crimes and prevent conviction of innocent persons.
The Commission also asked the government to deliver free medical services to survivors of sexual offences, and also provide safe homes and psychological care for them.
The statement came in the immediate aftermath of tremendous public outcry over the alleged sexual penetration and brutal and dastardly killing of a 5-year-old girl.
The Chairperson of the HRCSL, Patricia Narsu Ndanema, on behalf of the Commission, extended condolences to the bereaved family, and also said that the Commission would continue to monitor the incidents of sexual penetration of the five-year-old which allegedly led to her death on June 17, 2020. She emphasized that the Commission condemns all forms of sexual assault against women and girls.
It could be recalled that, the police have arrested four people allegedly connected to her death, and a report prepared at conclusion of an autopsy conducted on her remains lists manual strangulation (asphyxial death), spinal cord injury, bitten tongue, vaginal and anal dilatation, finger nail excoriation, fracture of cervical vertebrae among others as causes of her death.
HRCSL said that acts of sexual penetration and rape contravene the Sexual Offences Act 2012, as amended by the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2019.
Section 19 of the said Act prohibits ‘sexual penetration of a child’ whilst Section 20 prohibits ‘sexual touching of a child’. The Amendment provides for a maximum punishment of life imprisonment for perpetrators of sexual violence against minors.
The Commission noted the police’s prompt start of investigations into the matter and urges them to speed up the investigations.
The HRCSL further commended the general denunciation by individuals and other organizations, of acts of violence, saying that the actions clearly demonstrated increase in the public’s awareness on rights and which by extension has increased their inclination to denounce any incident that could prevent their enjoyment of life.
The HRCSL also reminds the government of its human rights state obligations of respecting, protecting and fulfilling human rights which are crucial for the overall enjoyment of rights.
The HRCSL urged everyone to put effort in ensuring the enjoyment of human rights which it described as a collective responsibility. It encouraged the public to continue to denounce all acts immediately as they occur and to promptly report cases of rape, sexual penetration and all forms of violence perpetrated against women and children to the HRCSL, the Rainbo Center, the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and other appropriate authorities.
By Stephen V. Lansana
29/6/2020. ISSUE NO. 7854