Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is a small country located on the West African coast that is home to approximately 6 million people and is continually ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world. In 2002, Sierra Leone emerged from a 10-year civil war that ravaged the country and resulted in over half of the population being displaced. Over 80 percent of all refugees were women and children. From 1991 to 2002, Sierra Leone was embroiled in bloody civil war, which greatly affected the lives of the nation's women. Throughout the war, women were abducted, were victims of sexual violence, and were forced into conscription. Between 50,000 and 64,000 women were victims of sexual violence, such as rape and sexual slavery, and many were forced into ...