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 unwanted marriages. When returning to society, former refugees and soldiers lacked basic healthcare, education, food, shelter, and clothing.

Before the outbreak of civil war in Sierra Leone, women were viewed as second-class citizens in the eyes of the law and social norms. Polygamy is practiced in many parts of Sierra Leone, which can cause conflict within the family and expose women to increased risks of sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Genital mutilation is also practiced in Sierra Leone.

This primary school was completely destroyed during Sierra Leone's 10-year civil war. Rebel soldiers used it as a base and training ground, and used its books and wooden furnishings as fuel for fires.

Women in urban areas of Sierra Leone have been making strides in education and political reform, but [Page 1348]the uneven distribution of schools has caused this movement to grow slowly. Most schools are located in the south and in urban areas, leaving women in rural settings uneducated. There has been an emphasis on the education of women in Sierra Leone by local governments, the United Nations (UN), and associated organizations. After the war, hundreds of nongovernmental organizations emerged to institute rehabilitation and reintegration projects. Many of these projects targeted young women with the intention of improving their economic and emotional status and increasing their knowledge of health and reproductive issues.

In an effort to create peace and stability in Sierra Leone, UN peacekeeping forces have had a large presence in the country; as a result, there has been an increase in prostitution. Women working as prostitutes are often faced with sexual violence, the spread of HIV/AIDS, and lack of proper reproductive healthcare. Large-scale efforts to protect women from physical and sexual violence have proved fruitful over the past few years. In 2007, after efforts made by woman's groups, three “gender bills” were made into law. The Domestic Violence Act, the Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act, and the Devolution of Estates Act offer women in Sierra Leone the protection of the law, which was not available previously.