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    Sierra Leone's President Declared Rape A National Emergency. What Happens Now?

    Women's rights groups have welcomed the declaration, but are concerned whether the new policies can impact the lives of the country's women and girls.
    by Mara Kardas-Nelson Feb 15, 2019 5 minutes
    Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio, pictured here at a press conference in May 2018, last week declared rape and sexual violence a national emergency.

    Rape and sexual violence in Sienna Leone is now a national emergency.

    Last week President Julius Maada Bio declared it so, and outlined ambitious plans — like free hospital care to rape victims, creating special police and court divisions devoted to sexual violence and a national phone hotline — to address the problem.

    Sierra Leone's sexual violence statistics are harrowing. According to the country's police service, there were more than 8,500 reported case of sexual- and gender-based violence in 2018 — and a third of these involved a minor. But many activists, and the country's first lady, say the number of actual cases is likely much higher, as many instances go unreported.

    In his announcement, the president noted that "each month, hundreds of cases of rape and sexual assault, a nonprofit that offers free health care and psychosocial services to sexual violence survivors.

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