As the country continues to grapple with Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) which is a social problem in Sierra Leone, the Legal Aid Board and the Sierra Leone Association of Women in Journalism (SLAWIJ) have on July 1, 2020, agreed to forge a partnership in the campaign against gender abuses which have increased amidst the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.
The discussion focused on how the media’s power could be harnessed to make a positive impact in the campaign against SGBV through raising awareness on the relevant laws; ensuring that victims have justice and supporting the need to move on and rebuild their lives, and also exposing compromises in SGBV cases with a view to ending impunity in such crimes.
Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles observed that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about an increase in the abuse of women and girls, particularly relating to domestic violence in homes. She welcomed the partnership, noting that working with female journalists on SGBV and domestic violence would be crucial in addressing the menace. She underlined that the media are key in informing and educating people on these issues, and said that the campaign would help in countering fake news and primitive customary beliefs and attitudes which he said were not helping to stop abuses against women and girls. She assured them of the Board’s commitment to working with any patriotic organization or individual on those issues, and disclosed that it would even assist with providing resources to the campaign.
The President of SLAWIJ, Millicent Kargbo, said that the organization is committed to protecting women’s rights and would therefore do all within its means to achieve that goal. She said SLAWIJ would work with the Board in the production and presentation of programmes on SGBV issues. Other members of the SLAWIJ team who participated in the meeting comprised Patricia Ganda of Star Radio and Television, Aminata Finda Massaquoi and Mariama Sesay.
Both agreed to prepare and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the end of the month.
By Sallieu S. Kanu
07/07/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7860