The International Rescue Committee will today, Wednesday 25th November 2009, commence "Sixteen Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women 2009" where the people of Sierra Leone will "Commit. Act. Demand: We can End Violence Against Women and Girls!" This is according to a press release issued by the International Rescue Committee.

"The war in Sierra Leone officially ended in 2002, but for the women and girls it has not end until communities themselves take action and demand the Government of Sierra Leone to prioritize ending violence against women and girls," the release states.

"Every day in Sierra Leone women and girls live in fear of being raped, physically and emotionally abused, forced into early marriages, or forced into Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). In 2009 the IRC supported rape crisis centres known as Rainbo Centres provided direct services to over 800 rape victims of which 80% were children under the age of 15. In addition, over 1,500 cases of domestic violence were reported to the Sierra Leone Police (SLP).

Sixteen Days of Activism against Violence Against Women is a global campaign to raise awareness on the injustice of violence against women and girls and a call to all to take action. This year the International Rescue Committee (IRC) celebrates the women and men that contribute to a Sierra Leone free of violence and calls on others to make an impact to stop violence against women and girls. We all have the responsibility to ensure that every Sierra Leonean, including women and girls, are given a chance to live a healthy and safe life.

Sierra Leone is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), conventions that include clauses that protect women and girls from violence and abuse. There are also three Sierra Leonean local laws entitled the Gender Justice Acts (The Domestic Violence, Registration of Customary Marriages and Divorce and the Devolution of Estate Acts 2007) and unfortunately the key implementers responsible for their enforcement including, the courts, police and health personnel do not believe in the content of the Acts, which gravely hamper accessibility.

The people of Sierra Leone call on the government to protect women and girls. The government should: commit additional resources to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs to fully implement the three Gender Justice Acts; ensure access to justice free from intimidation, threats and manipulation; put policies in place to address Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and; enact the Matrimonial Causes and Sexual Violence Bills.

The people of Sierra Leone call on individuals to protect women and girls of their country and: commit to never using violence; talk openly to your partner about the implications of gender-based violence on the family; reach out to women experiencing violence; challenge men who use violence as a communication and control tool; challenge local leaders and the government to address violence and protect women and girl, and; ensure perpetrators of violence are brought to justice".