Figures in the Sierra Leone Police Crime Statistics for the year 2019, has shown that the total cases of Violence against Women and Children has increased to 12, 314 cases in 2019 from 12, 052 cases in 2018.
According to the Report, Violence against Women, also largely understood to be Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), is often considered a hate crime that is primarily or exclusively committed against women and girls because they are females. The Report further describes it as having a historical manifestation of unequal power relations between men and women, and can be categorized into Domestic Violence, Rape, Sexual Penetration and Economic Abuse.
Crime Statistician, Sergeant Allen Mohamed Koroma said on Tuesday that, when comparing the three years under review, 2019 had the most cases reported and 2017 the least. He attributed the increment to quick response in investigation, proper data record mechanism at Family Support Unit and sensitization and awareness raising campaign.
He said that out of the 12, 314 cases reported , Freetown-East accounted for 3, 477 ; Eastern Region 2,275 ; Southern Region 2,202; Freetown West 1, 826; North – East Region and North- West Region with 1, 669 and 865 cases, respectively.
Sergeant Koroma added that, according to the Sierra Leone Police Family Support Unit, domestic violence accounts for 8, 917 cases; Sexual Penetration for 3, 253 and Rape 145 cases.
“Domestic Violence could be categorized into physical or sexual abuse; economic abuse; emotional , verbal or psychological abuse, including any conduct that makes another person feel constantly unhappy, humiliated, ridiculed, afraid, depressed, inadequate or worthless,” he added.
He further explained that Domestic Violence is subdivided into diverse category according to the Domestic Violence Act of 2007 which includes Child Offences and Sexual Offences etc.
Sergeant Koroma also mentioned that child offences amounted to 596 of the total reported cases with the exception of sexual penetration that were recorded in 2019.
By George M.O. Williams
12/6/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7844