WOMEN COUNT - GNWP · 2020. 1. 23. · roles during the war. Apart from those who were victims,...

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WOMEN COUNTSecurity Council Resolution 1325:Civil Society Monitoring Report 2012

A project ofthe Global Network

of Women PeacebuildersAfghanistan, Colombia, Democratic Republic of

Congo, Fiji, Liberia, Nepal, Netherlands, Philippines,

Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka,

Sweden, and Uganda

“All peace and security advocates – both individually and as part of organizational work - should read the 2012 civil society monitoring report on Resolution 1325! It guides us to where we should focus our energies and resources to ensure women’s equal participation in all peace processes and at all decision-making levels, thereby achieving sustainable peace.” -Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations

“The GNWP initiative on civil society monitoring of UNSCR 1325 provides important data and analysis on the implementation of the resolution at both the national and local levels. It highlights examples of what has been achieved, and provides a great opportunity to reflect on how these achievements can be further applied nationwide. In this regard my Ministry is excited to be working with GNWP and its members in Sierra Leone on the Localization of UNSCR 1325 and 1820 initiatives!” - Honorable Steve Gaojia, Minister of Social Welfare, Gender & Children’s Affairs, Government of Sierra Leone

“The 2012 Women Count: Security Council Resolution 1325 Civil Society Monitoring Report uses locally acceptable and applicable indicators to assess progress in the implementation of Resolution 1325 at the country and community levels. The findings and recommendations compel us to reflect on what has been achieved thus far and strategize on making the implementation a reality in places that matters. Congratulations to GNWP-ICAN on this outstanding initiative!” - Leymah Gbowee, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

“The civil society monitoring report on UNSCR 1325 presents concrete data and analysis on the implementation of the resolution at national level. It helps us identify priorities for implementation and allocate resources to ensure women’s participation in all peace processes and achieve long lasting peace. A must read for all peace and security actors and advocates. Congratulations to GNWP on this outstanding initiative!” - Sadhu Ram Sapkota, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, Government of Nepal

“A beautifully presented, thoroughly documented accounting of what is happening to a resolution that came from the grass roots, was vetted by the grass roots and was lobbied for by women for unanimous adoption by the Security Council. Cheers to the women of the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders for their careful, detailed work. GNWP is also making a unique contribution working at localization. It’s about time that some western based organization relied on local women to plan their own peacemaking program. Local women are planning their own strategies in peacebuilding and adapting UNSCR1325 to meet their needs.” - Cora Weiss (former President, International Peace Bureau, now its UN representative, President, Hague Appeal for Peace)

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Security Council Resolution 1325: Civil Society Monitoring Report 2012

2 Women Count 2012 Civil Society Monitoring of UNSCR 1325

A F R I C A

Authors:Dr. Nana Pratt, Mrs. Rosaline M’Carthy, Mr. Samuel Weekes, Haja Mariama Fofana

Researchers:Mr. Tunde Bell-Taylor, Mrs. Marie Bangura, Ms. Princess Kawa, Mr. Amara Sowah, Mrs. Ramatu Fornah, Mrs. Amie Gbandawa, Haja Mariama Fofana, Mrs. Jeneba Koroma, Mr. Alfred Carew and Mrs. Mabel Kartusche

AcknowledgementSpecial thanks are due to various individuals and institutions that were able to furnish us with data/information. They include the following: Inspector General of Police Francis Munu, Brigadier Kestoria Kabia (ACDS, RSLAF), UN Peace Keeping Documentation Division of the Sierra Leone Police, Charles Bockarie Vandi – Ag. Director of Gender of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs and the Law Reform Commission. We wish to record our gratitude to the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) for its support in implementing the regional training on Civil Society Monitoring of United National Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 1325 & 1820, June 13-15 2012, in Sierra Leone which greatly enhanced the writing of this report, together with other important achievements. Six participants from Liberia (1), DR Congo (2), Rwanda (1) and Burundi (2) attended the training in addition to fifteen Sierra Leonean nationals.

We must also acknowledge the contributions made by sisters and brothers from the various other countries. They shared experiences and challenges facing women’s groups tackling sexual and gender-based violence in their communities and their strategies for monitoring and evaluating UNSCRs 1325 and 1820.

Gratitude also goes to the Government of Canada for the financial support for this project.

Republic of Sierra Leone

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List of acronyms ACDS Assistant Chief of Defense Staff

ACOTA African Contingency Operations Training Assistance

AFC Agenda for Change

ASP Assistant Superintendent of Police

CDP Council Development Plan

CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

CHISECS Chiefdom Security Committees

CSO Civil Society Organization

CSW Commission on the Status of Women

DDR Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration

DCAF Democratic Centre for the Control of Armed Forces

DISECS District Security Committees

ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States

ENCISS Enhancing the Interaction and Interface between Civil Society and Government to Improve Poor People’s Lives

FSU Family Support Unit

GBV Gender Based Violence

G-CISTF Government Civil Society Task Force

GFP Gender Focal Point

GNWP Global Network on Women Peacebuilders

HRCSL Human Rights Commission Sierra Leone

HND Higher National Diploma

HTC Higher Teacher’s Certificate

IMATT International Military Advisory and Training Team

IMC Independent Media Commission

IRC International Rescue Committee

JP Justice of the Peace


MARWOPNET Mano River Women’s Peace Network

M&E Monitoring and Evaluation

MDA Ministries, Departments and Agencies

MOD Ministry of Defense

MRU Mano River Union

MSWGCA Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs

NaCSA National Commission for Social Action

NaC-GBV National Committee on Gender Based Violence

NAP National Action Plan

NGSP National Gender Strategy Plan

NSC National Steering Committee

NOW-(SL) National Organization for Women Sierra Leone

ONS Office of National Security

OPS Operations

PROSECS Provincial Security Committees

SSI Security Sector Institution

RSLAF Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces

SGBV Sexual and Gender Based Violence

SSR Security Sector Reform

SiLNAP Sierra Leone National Action Plan

TC Teachers’ Certificate

TRC Truth and Reconciliation Commission

UN United Nations

UNSCR 1325 (2000) United Nations Security Resolution 1325 (October 2000)

UNSCR 1820 (2008) United Nations Security Resolution 1820 ( June 2008)

WANEP West African Network for Peacebuilding

WISSL Women in Security Sector, Sierra Leone

WPJP Women Partnership for Justice and Peace

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A. Nature of the conflictIn the period between 23 March 1991 and July 1999, Sierra Leone suffered a senseless civil war. It has been estimated that about 50 percent of the population of almost 4 million (49 percent men, 51 percent women) was displaced within the country and externally as refugees. Additionally, over 50,000 people were killed.

The causes of the armed conflict in Sierra Leone have been explained in the Report of the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission.1 The basic cause was essentially bad/undemocratic governance. This encouraged corruption, non-accountability, promoted land disputes, inequality and discrimination across gender, in particular against women and youth by various leadership and actors at all levels of society.

The war was characterized by unimaginable acts of violence particularly against civilians. Such acts included amputation of limbs, arson to public and private properties. UNIFEM (now UN WOMEN) estimated at the time that over 25,000 women were raped during the wars.2

After four failed peace agreements, the Lomé Peace Accord brokered in May 1999 between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with the support of the International Community, achieved cessation of hostilities and ushered in the process of peace restoration. Although the Peace Accord was signed on the 7th of July 1999 in Lomé, Togo, the war was only officially declared over with the symbolic burning of arms collected in the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process in January 2002.

Since the end of the war, elements of fragility are evidenced in the violent flaring up of inter-party political skirmishes. Furthermore, determinants of the issues of bad governance relates to unjust trends in the post-colonial history of Sierra Leone and geopolitical roles of external power brokers. The primary external power broker is the ex-faction leader/ex-President Charles Taylor of Liberia whose trial in the Sierra Leone Special Court in the Hague, Netherlands, for war crimes in Sierra Leone ended on the 26th of April 2012. He was found guilty and sentenced to prison for 25 years.

However, Sierra Leone is progressing along the path of peace consolidation, reconciliation and reconstruction. Intense efforts are directed at stabilizing its economy and the operation of an inclusive system of governance including a focus on gender equality.

Sierra Leone is scheduled to hold a second Presidential and Parliamentary election on the 17th of November 2012. All stakeholders, including women’s civil society groups as well 1 Witness to Truth; Report of the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Sierra Leone, 2004.2 UNICEF, the impact of conflict on Women and Girls in West and Central Africa (2005)

as several youth platforms, have redoubled efforts to ensure that, like the September 2007 elections, the November 2012 electoral process will continue and end without violence.

B. Impact of conflict on women Women and children – boys, and girls in particular, endured the greater burden of the armed conflict in Sierra Leone. They endured the brutalities of sexual violence – rape, sexual slavery, and forced marriage. The 11-year war resulted in the sexual abuse of over 250,000 women and girls. The consequences of the violence against women continue to plague women and their families across the country. The greater impact of the war is seen among the large number of single girl-mothers and female-headed households who constitute the majority of the poorest of the poor currently living in the peri-urban and rural areas of the country. Women and girls participated in different roles during the war. Apart from those who were victims, there were also some who were subdued into becoming perpetrators. All suffered violations of their human rights and continue to grapple with the lingering effect of these.

Many women’s organizations/groups emerged during the war, and were active in lobbying and advocacy to end the war. Since the end of the war, women’s movements in Sierra Leone championed the enactment of several pieces of legislation such as the three gender justice laws, namely – the Domestic and Divorce Act, the Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act, and the Devolution of Estate Act. On the 23 of August, 2012 the Sexual Offenses Bill was passed into law by the Sierra Leone Parliament. The enactment of the Sexual Offenses Bill into law is another milestone achievement for women’s activism and the determination of the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) to strengthen efforts for the protection of women and prevention of incidences that expose women and girls to abuse and sexual violence.

C. Relevant policies The GoSL with leadership of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA) and in active partnership with the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), the Mano River Women’s Peace Network (MARWOPNET) and WANMAR 1325 Task Force, has developed and launched a National Action Plan on UNSCRs 1325 and 1820. The WANMAR 1325 Task Force is a broad based constituency of government actors/stakeholders from different Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), different women’s organizations/groups, and human rights non-state actors at various levels. The Sierra Leone National Action Plan for the full implementation of UNSCRs 1325 and 1820 (SiLNAP) was officially launched by His Excellency the President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma on the 8th of June 2010.

The establishment of the National Steering Committee for the full implementation of UNSCRs 1325 and 1820 by the MSWGCA is a

I. Women, peace and security profile


strengthening of the mechanisms for effective/coherent responses.

Other positive policies include the twin National Policies on the Advancement of the Status of Women and Gender Mainstreaming. Sierra Leone has also signed the AU Women’s Protocol but it has yet to ratify it.

II. Data presentation and analysis

The government of Sierra Leone with inputs from non-state actors, particularly the women’s movement and development partners continue to make noteworthy efforts in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in all spheres. However, data collected/information gathered still reveal pervasive gender inequality in all fields and at all levels, with the most disadvantaged being women and girls.

Challenges to reaching desired transformative outcomes in the area of women and peace and security remain. Sex disaggregated data is not readily available and accessible. The implementation of some plans and policies including gender policies is slow and ineffective. Patriarchal attitudes and behaviors especially in institutions and structures in local communities persist.

A. ParticipationIndicator 1 - Index of women’s participation in governance (percent of women in senior positions in cabinet/ministries and departments, in parliament, in senior position in local governance structures)There has been an increase in women’s representation in decision-making at all levels in society since the last civil society monitoring exercise in 2010. However data, as given in Figure 1.1, show that in nearly all fields, the percentage falls far below the critical mass of 30 percent, the number advocated for in the Beijing Platform for Action.3 The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2004) recommended this same minimum percentage as a relevant step in promoting women’s status, and addressing underlying causes of the gender injustice perpetuated against women during the 11-year civil war.

Figure1.1: Representation and participation in governance senior decision-making positions in ministries, departments and agencies.

Political and Governance Field 2010 2011/2012% F % M Total Number % F % M Total number

Cabinet Ministers 9.5 90.5 21 10 90 21Deputy Ministers 10 90 23 10 90 23Parliamentarians 13.7 86.3 124 13.7 86.3 124Paramount Chiefs 6.7 93.3 149 6.7 93.3 149Ambassadors/High Commissioners 4 22 26Councilors 18.9 81.1 454 18.9 81.1 454Mayor/Chairperson of Local Councils 0 100 19 10 90 4Deputy Mayor/Deputy Chairpersons of Local Councils 31.5 68.5 19 31.5 68.5 19

National Electoral Commission – Chief and Regional Commissions 40 60 5 40 60 5

Source: National Election Commission (NEC) quoted in Sierra Leone’s 6th CEDAW report submitted in 2011Field Survey finding

3 Judy Smith-Hohn, Rebuilding the Security Sector in Post-Conflict Societies perceptions form Urban Liberia and Sierra Leone (Geneva, DCAF, 2010, 78-81)

Figure 1.2: Total number of women and men in senior positions in the civil service

Position Type and Level Number of Employees % Distribution

Civil Servants Gradei Total Female Male Female Male

Junior Level 1 – 6 14,421 5,556 8,865 38.5 61.5

Middle Level 7 340 93 247 27.4 72.6

8 220 47 173 21.4 78.6

9 332 59 273 17.8 82.2

10 54 6 48 11.1 88.9

Total 946 205 741 21.7 78.3

Senior Level 11 84 6 78 7.1 92.9

12 36 1 35 2.8 97.2

13 30 2 28 6.7 93.3

14 8 1 7 12.5 87.5

Total 158 10 148 6.3 94

Political Appointments (such as Board members of Institutions, Human Right Commission

210 36 174 17.1 82.9

Grand Total 15,735 5,807 9,928 36.9 63.1

Source: Adapted from Civil Service Payroll of 2011

Women’s low level of participation and representation rate in governance at the parliamentary, local councils and ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) levels are also observed at the governance levels of political parties.4 Women are not prominent in the mainstream of the parties, but rather in the women’s wing of congress.5

The under-representation of women in political decision-making and governance structures may change soon. Local Councils have provided an avenue for women to be propelled into governance. More female candidates are currently aspiring

ii Grade means ‘Level” Grade 1 – 6: Junior Employees; Grade 7, 8, 9: Medium Employees; Grade 10-14: Senior Employees

4 This data are not readily available.5 One of the parties refer to their women’s group as the Congress

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for their party’s nomination in order to contest the forthcoming November 2012 general elections. More educated women who had shied away from politics are now venturing into politics. In an interview with two of such aspirants, it was disclosed that their activism in civil society organizations and women’s groups has served as impetus to lure them into local and national politics.6

Indicator 2 - Percentage of women in peace negotiating teams and detailed breakdown of gender issues addressed in peace agreementAs in most wars, women in Sierra Leone bore the brunt of the civil war. UNSCR 1325 (2000) was unanimously adopted by member states in October 2000. The end to the civil war was negotiated in Lomé, Togo, in July 1999, prior to the adoption of the resolution, and the war was officially declared over in January 2002 after the signing of the Peace Agreement referred to as the ‘Lomé Peace Accord’. Women were an integral part of the Peace Negotiating Team in Lomé from the 25th of May to the 7th of July in 1999. Although the documented evidence regarding the number of males and females on the delegations were not readily available, stories recounted by the representative of the CSO Women’s Forum on the Observer team, indicate that women comprised about 37 percent of all persons who participated in the negotiation process.7

The civil war was officially declared over in January 2002, and since then, all stakeholders in Sierra Leone continue intense efforts to ensure that the hard-won peace is nurtured and maintained, even where there have been hot spots of political violence, posing threats to the safety and security of persons, especially women and girls. In some of these instances civil society organization such as HOPE Sierra Leone, an organization campaigning for peace, have gone into communities to mediate conflict. Another organization, Fambul Tok has also trained community women referred to as Peace Mothers to mediate peace in their communities.

Indicator 3 - Index of women’s participation in the justice, security sector and peacekeeping missionsLiterature review and key informant interviews as well as focus group discussions (FGD) with top cadre of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the military revealed the following:

The PoliceData obtained from the Police in 2010 and 2012 are shown in Figure 3.1. The number of females in the force in 2012 is 16.6 6 Decentralization Secretariat (DecSec) Eastern Region; Method- Informal Interview7 Dr. Nana Pratt represented Women’s Forum and Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone at the Peace Talks in Lome, May - June 1999

percent. Women occupy less than 20 percent of the top most level of the institution.

The 2010 and 2012 data demonstrate that the highest number of women can be found among constables. The reason may be connected with the minimal level of education required to qualify for recruitment at this level. There are 27 female holders of degrees (10.5 percent) compared to 256 males. This explains the paucity of women at the top cadre from Inspector General of Police to Assistant Superintendent where decisions are taken. This confirms Randell’s statement, that where women are; power is not.8 In spite of this, the positions in the lower levels are still dominated by males.

In the Eastern Region, the command was headed by a female Assistant Inspector-General up until 2010. Since her transfer to Freetown, no senior police officer above the rank of superintendent has been posted to the entire Eastern Region. The current Superintendent is not a female.

The complete absence of women in the top most cadres is evident. No woman has ever reached the level of Inspector-General or Deputy Inspector-General in the history of the police force. Support staff consists of nurses, laborers, administrative and clerical staff who are rarely involved in decision-making. The dominance of women in this category is evident. Due to stereotypes relating to subject and career choices, clerical work and nursing are considered inferior and are assigned to women. All auxiliary staff (technical and mechanical) members are males and are trained in technical and mechanical skills within the force. This category of staff includes drivers, motor mechanics and cleaners. Figure 3.1 gives a current breakdown by rank and sex.

Figure 3.1: Sierra Leone Police staff categories disaggregated by rank and sex.

Rank 2010 2012 Male Female Male FemaleNum % Num % Num % Num %

Inspector-General

1 100 0 0.0 1 100 0 0

Deputy Inspector-General

1 100 0 0.0 1 100 0 0

Asst. Inspector-General

10 83.3 2 16.7 16 14.8 2 1.5

Chief Superintendent

23 100 0 0.0 25 13.9 2 1.5

Superintendent 62 92.5 5 7.5 99 80.1 10 9.7Asst. Superintendent

133 91.7 12 8.3 262 88.1 40 5.2

Inspector 470 89.4 56 10.6 514 76.0 148 4.2Sergeant 1966 89.4 234 10.6 2009 83.3 276 15.67Constable 5144 81.5 1168 18.5 6270 80.7 1388 19.3Auxiliary Staff 13 100 0 0.0 0.0 99.6 4 0.4Support Staff 266 69.6 116 30.4 393 80.65 48 9.35Total 8089 83.5 1593 16.5 9590 80.76 1910 16.6

Source: Systems Administration, Sierra Leone Police, May, 2010, July 2012

8 V. Randell. (1982), Women and Politics, Macmillan, London, p 8.

Local Councils have provided an avenue for women to be propelled into governance. More female candidates are currently aspiring for their party’s nomination in order to contest the forthcoming November 2012 general elections.


Figure 3.2 Personnel gender distribution by qualification, July 2012

Male Female TotalGraduates (Degrees) 256 27 283Higher Teachers’ Certificate 126 27 144Higher National Diploma 4 0 4DIPLOMA 6 5 11Teachers’ Certificate 7 2 9GRAND TOTAL 399 52 451

Source: Systems Administration, Sierra Leone Police, July 201

Figure 3.3: Current strength of the Sierra Leone Police, July 2012

S/NO RANK Male % Female % Total No.

1Inspector General of Police

1 100 0 0.0 1

2 Deputy Inspector 1 100 0 0.0 1

3Assistant Inspector General

16 88.9 2 11.1 18

4 Chief Superintendent 25 92.6 2 7.4 27

5 Superintendent 99 90.8 10 9.2 109

6 Assistant Superintendent 262 86.8 40 13.2 302

7 Inspector 514 77.6 148 22.4 6628 Sergeant 2009 87.9 276 12.1 22859 Constable 6270 81.9 1388 18.1 7658

Total Operational Strength 9197 83.2 1862 16.8 11059

12 Support Staff 393 89.1 48 10.9 441Grand Total 9,590 83.4 1,910 16.6 1,1500

Source: Computed from Systems Administration, Sierra Leone Police, July 2011

Figure 3.4: Personnel gender distribution by region – July 2012

Region Male % Female % TOTAL

WestOperation Strength 2,812

87.9376

12.1 3,464SLP Staff 233 43

Freetown-WestOperation Strength 917

73.6345

26.41,305

SLP Staff 43 0

Freetown - EastOperation Strength 1,179

73.4450

26.61,699

SLP Staff 68 2

North-EastOperation Strength 884

85.8148

14.21,042

SLP Staff 10 0

North - WestOperation Strength 764

87.4110

12.6883

SLP Staff 8 1

EastOperation Strength 1,286

88.1175

11.91,477

SLP Staff 15 1

SouthOperation Strength 955

86.8147

13.21,119

SLP Staff 16 1AU/UN Peacekeeping Mission 220 72.4 84 27.6 304Grand Total 9,410 81.8 1,883 18.2 11,393

Source: Computed from Systems Administration, Sierra Leone Police, July 2012

Ironically, the SLP is committed to gender mainstreaming so that equal opportunities will be provided for men and women in terms of recruitment and upward mobility. It has adopted an affirmative policy in terms of recruitment and rapid upward mobility through accelerated promotions of females. In addition, the SLP has developed a gender mainstreaming policy that was informed by the National Gender Policy.

Secondary data reveal that female participation in the police force is only 17 percent, a slight increase of 0.5 percent from the previous year. This increase could be attributed to the affirmative policy adopted in the recruitment and upward mobility. However, young female graduates are reluctant to apply for employment to the security forces as they perceive them as male institutions. This attitude reflects the socialization of girls and boys to regard security sector as a masculine institution.

The MilitaryFigure 3.5 gives a sex disaggregated distribution of members in the army. The pattern in the military is similar to that already described for the Police and data show that only 3.7 percent of the forces are women.

Figure 3.5: Distribution of military personnel disaggregated by sex

Class Level Rank

2010 2012Male % Female % Male Female

Commissioned Senior Officers

Brigadier to General to Major

81.0 19.0 92.5 7.5

Junior Officers

2nd Lieutenant to Captain

96.0 4.0 94.9 5.1

Non Commissioned

Senior Officers

Sergeant to Warrant Officer Class 1 and 2

97.0 3.0 97.6 2.4

Junior Officers

Corporal to Private

96.0 4.0 95.3 4.7

Source: Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, 2010 and August 2012

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The first female brigadiers in Sierra Leone, and in West Africa, were recently appointed as a step towards implementing an equal opportunities policy adopted in 2009 by the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF). The RSLAF like the SLP is committed to gender mainstreaming. The strategy of implementing a gender policy has contributed to a significant increase in the percentage of females in the senior ranks. In spite of this, the evidence continues to portray a predominance of males over females in the military. No woman has ever attained the rank of Chief of Defense Staff in the RSLAF. The woman Brigadier is one of the Assistant Chiefs of Defense Staff and was in charge of training and personnel in 2010, but is now the head of the Gender Equality Opportunities Unit.

There is no female Colonel but there are three female Lieutenant Colonels. The minimal representation of women in the military is due to the fact that it is still seen as a patriarchal institution and so women do not apply for admission.

The military has encouraged the formation of an association of Women in Security Sector in Sierra Leone (WISSL). Female members from other Security Sector Institutions (SSI) namely, Police, Prisons, Immigration, Customs and Private Security Agencies, also belong to this association. Other SSIs, such as the Prisons and Fire Force, who do not yet have a gender policy, are being encouraged to put such an enabling instrument in place. The current president of WISSL is Mrs. Francess Nyuma, Assistant Research Officer, and Office of National Security (ONS).

A review of the Defense White Paper is being undertaken to make it gender sensitive. A policy on gender mainstreaming and office practicalization is in progress at the Ministry of Defense (MOD). A Sexual Harassment Policy is also under preparation by the Gender Equality Opportunities Unit, Ministry of Defense.

The JudiciaryWomen can play all roles in the judiciary; there are no limits to the heights they can reach. The Judiciary does not participate in peace missions but it has sent a female judge to the Economic Community of West Africa States Court. Women are visible in the judiciary through the high profiled positions they occupy.

Figure 3.6: Number of Judges, Magistrates/Justice of the Peace,9 by province/region and by sex

Type of Judiciary Staff Province/Region Grand Total

Western Area Southern Eastern Northern M F M F M F M F M F

Justices of the Peace 7 3 - - - - - - 7 3Magistrates 11 2 2 - 2 - 3 - 18 2High Court 8 3 1 - 1 - 1 - 11 3Court of Appeal 2 3 - - - - - - 2 3Supreme Court 2 3 - - - - - - 2 3Total 30 14 3 - 3 - 4 - 40 14

Source: Sierra Leone Courts Registry, Law Courts Headquarter, Freetown, July 2012

9 A Justice of the Peace – a state appointed non-legal person of credible character and integrity that could be called upon to perform some kind of legal supportive duties including authenticating some legal documents – e.g birth certificate, affidavits. Some of these persons are appointed to serve as Magistrates

Figure 3.6 shows that there are more males than females in the judiciary as a result of more men going into the legal profession. Fewer females than males enroll at the university to study law. Although more women work as support staff, such as secretaries and paralegals, women are playing key roles in the judiciary as well. The Chief Justice is a woman and so are the Solicitor General and the head of Law Reform Commission. The number of women judges in the High Court/Court of Appeal/Supreme Court remains at nine out of nineteen judges, almost 50 percent.

The figure is high because the Justice Sector is trying to include more women, keeping in mind the 30 percent figure of women in any decision-making position. The high percentage of females in the top strata of the judiciary may also be because men leave the court system to set up lucrative practices.

In the lower magistrate courts, women are fewer than men. Women’s role, it was suggested, can be improved in the judiciary by “…progressive implementation of empowerment of women and adopt(ing) policies of affirmative action.” Negative cultural attitudes to women in Sierra Leone are a major setback to their progress. One reason for the low representation of women in the judiciary is because society still perceives it as a patriarchal institution so women shy away from it. Women prefer to study Liberal Arts like Literature and History instead of Law while they believe it is a more technical subject and a male preserve.

Before 2010, the Resident Judge for the Eastern Region and the Magistrate for the Kenema and Kailahun Districts were women. However, since then, the Resident Judge, the Magistrates, the Customary Law Officer/ State Counsel, the private Barristers and the Justices of the Peace (who preside in Magistrate Courts in lieu of the Magistrate) in Kailahun are all male. Even though over the years there has been an increase in the number of women holding senior positions in the Judiciary, this is not reflected in the Eastern Region. This is largely attributable to the lack of enthusiasm on the part of female judges to work in the Provinces. The position is similar in the other provinces

Peacekeeping MissionsA focus group discussion was held at the Peacekeeping unit of the Sierra Leone Police Force, at Police headquarters, George


Street. Two men and three women took part in the discussion. The following information was gathered.

Figure 3.7: Percentage of males and females in peacekeeping unit at police headquarters as of July 2012

Class Level Rank NumberCommissioned Senior Head of Unit Superintendent 1

Senior Dep. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) 1

Senior ASP 3

All five officers in the Peacekeeping Unit have been on mission to UNAMID in Darfur/Sudan. Currently, there are 215 men and 84 women in this Peacekeeping Mission. The gender disparity between male and female participation in peace keeping is a reflection of the gender disparity in the force where there are more men than women.

Women continue to constitute a reasonable proportion of the Peace Keeping missions to Sudan. In Kono, for example, out of five police personnel who have been sent on Peacekeeping operations, two are women. In the military however, out of 15 only one woman was included.

Currently female representation in peacekeeping is 38 percent compared to 19 percent in 2011. This is an increase of 100 percent. Several factors have contributed to this hike. SLP has adopted affirmative action in recruiting personnel to serve in peacekeeping missions. Previously, officers served for ten years in the force before going on peacekeeping missions, now they only serve five years. Also, there is accelerated promotion for females who have been discriminated against in terms of promotion so that they reach the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) very fast. This is being practiced in the spirit of closing the gender gap. When they get to the position of ASP, any further promotion is based on merit.

The ability to drive a vehicle is a requirement to go on peacekeeping missions. Many female police officers lack this skill. With support from G12 and the Pearson Centre in Canada, the Police secured vehicles that were used to train females as drivers. This attributed to the increase in number of female officers in these missions.

Lack of driving skills, low levels of education, poor communication skills in the English language, and fear of failing the selection test are all barriers to increased number of women in peacekeeping missions.

The security sector institutions are becoming more gender sensitive and security sector reform programs are being put in place since the end of the war.

TrainingsThe Democratic Centre for the Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) based in Geneva has sponsored programs for the security sector reforms in Africa. SLP has benefited from this sponsorship and this may explain why SLP is gender sensitive.

The SLP has established a gender unit. The head of the gender unit is a male and the deputy is a female.

130 men and eight females from RSLAF were sent on peacekeeping missions to UNAMID/Darfur, Sudan. The figure of females from RSLAF in UNAMID expressed in percentages is 6.1 percent. The police have 38 percent which is the highest percentage of females in peacekeeping missions.

Some of the women in missions, serve as escorts to internally displaced women going out of camps to collect firewood, while some others are drivers, chefs, nurses, and signalers. These roles should not be underestimated. According to an interviewee, “They are integral for the success of the mission.” Men and women are placed according to qualifications. The interviewee added that, “There is no discrimination on gender in DPKO.” The modules used to train the men and women are tailored to fit the type of mission they will be sent to, either Peacekeeping or Peace Enforcement. International Military Advisory and Training Team (IMATT) and African Contingency Operations Training Assistance (ACOT) all conduct trainings and administer exams to personnel going on missions.

Deployment Peacekeepers do not carry their ranks when they are deployed in mission fields and their positions depend on their curriculum vitae and experience.

The differences in participation between RSLAF and SLP could be attributed to the fact that the SLP already has a gender mainstreaming policy and affirmative action policy. It could also be that the roles the military and police perform in peacekeeping are different. SLP act as individual police advisors or community police. Their role is training the local police, policing etc. On the other hand the military personnel are engaged as peacekeepers or peace enforcers.

Indicator 4 - Number and percentage of women participating in each type of constitutional or legislature review (including security sector review)The head and the Executive Secretary of the Law Reform Commission are women. The Law Reform Commission is made up of a Chairman and six Commissioners. These include the Judiciary, the Sierra Leone Law School, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the Sierra Leone Bar Association and the Faculty or Department of Law at Fourah Bay College. There are many female workers at the Law Reform Commission.

The Sierra Leone Constitutional Review of 2007 was not done by the Law Reform Commission itself. A female representative who is now the present Chairman of the Law Reform Commission participated in the Constitutional Committee, and in the Review meetings that were chaired by Dr. Peter Tucker.

Women in the Constitutional Review process have made worthy contributions to the review process. Various forms of discrimination are rooted in provisions to be found in Section 27(4) (d) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, which states that although all citizens are equal before the law,

11

in matters of marriage, divorce, adoption etc, customary law shall prevail. This section is discriminatory against women in areas of marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance and other areas that influence gender relations at the domestic level. Representations have been made by the Women’s Movement to the Constitutional Review Committee to have this clause expunged from the Constitution. The action has yet to be effected.

The Sierra Leone Government’s Chief Legal adviser is the Attorney General who is head of the Law Officers’ Department. The Attorney General is a man and in his capacity as legal adviser to government ensures that:

a). The Government of Sierra Leone, respects and implements the law of Sierra Leone rightly

b). The human rights of women pertains to family law, development, security as contained in the constitution are adhered to

c). The rule of law is upheld

The Law Reform Commission in carrying out its review processes by setting up sub-committees to look into or review various areas of the law. There is substantial representation of women in these reviews. They constitute 60 percent of the work force in the Commission.

The Commission in its work looks at all conventions and treaties that are related to all citizens’, and makes recommendations on their inclusion in Sierra Leone’s Statutory Laws in the form of a draft bill which is sent to the Attorney General’s Office. It also follows up on implementations.

The only review to have taken place during this period 2011/2012 was the consultation on the review of the Local Government Act which was done at the regional level. Records show that only 9 out of 80 attendees at the Consultation were women. These included two Paramount Chiefs, Local Council Personnel and representatives from some women’s groups. Records further show that not much was articulated to further the cause of women during the consultations even by the women present.10

10 DecSec Eastern Region; Method- review of consultation records

Indicator 5 - Percentage of civil society organizations in task forces on UNSCR 1325 and 1820 (out of the total task force members)

With the Launching of the SiLNAP on the 8th of June 2010, the Task Force on UNSCR 1325 & 1820 completed its work. In May 2007 the MSWGCA established a Steering Committee for the implementation of SiLNAP. This is to give effect to the activities under Pillar 5 of SiLNAP (Promote Coordination of the Implementation Process including Resource Mobilization, Monitoring and Evaluation of and Reporting on the National Acton Plan) and move implementation forward. The majority of the members represented on the implementation committee were drawn from the initial Task Force. Not less than 50 percent of members on the Steering Committee were from women’s organizations.

B. Prevention and protection

Indicator 6 - Number of reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence and percentage of cases investigated, prosecuted and decided Reported cases of SGBV in Sierra Leone increased drastically during the conflict and post-conflict period in the country. During the war years women and girls suffered a number of abuses including gang rape, forced marriage and physical violence perpetuated by the fighting forces.

Women and girls continue to suffer in silence from various forms of abuses. The most common forms of SGBV are sexual abuse and assault; domestic violence; child cruelty; and human and child trafficking. Victims of sexual abuse range in age from a few months to sixty years and over.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has established Rainbo, a network of centers that support survivors of rape and sexual assault. They reportedly provided services to 1,408 clients in 2009, compared with 1,235 in the previous year. In the same year, only 17 cases out of approximately 4,000 filed cases were successfully prosecuted in court.

It should be noted there is a difference between sexual offenses and sexual assaults because sexual offenses are broader terms while sexual assault is just a single or one offense.

Type Total Reported% Under Investigation

% Resolved/ Withdrawn % Prosecuted

% Kept in View

% Dropped for lack of evidence

% Convicted

Sexual abuse/ assault 1,004 49.8 (492) 12.1 (113) 33.7 (353)4.3

(44)

0.2

(2)20

Domestic violence 1642 49.2 (777) 6.9 (106) 18.8 (205) 25.0 (485) 0.1 (1) 15Child cruelty 254 37.4 (95) 7.1 (18) 8.3 (21) 47.2 (120) (0)Human and child trafficking 22 40.9 (9) 45.5 (10) 13.6 (3) (0) (0)

Figure 6.1: Reported SGBV cases in 2009 and outcome

Source: Family Support Unit, Sierra Police. The parenthesis show the actual numbers


Information obtained from the Rainbo Centres and from the Family Support Unit (FSU) established as part of the Police shows that even after the war, incidences of sexual abuse of women and girls are on the increase, and remain a security threat of great concern in the country.

Figure 6.2: Reported SGBV cases reported and outcome, January - June 2012

Type of Case

Number of cases Reported

Number of cases Charged

Number of cases under Investigation

Number of cases Resolved/ withdrawn

Number of cases Kept in View

Lack of Evidence (Western Area)

Number of cases Closed

Domestic violence 1,103 88 519 299 192 1 10Sexual offenses 218 52 125 21 22 1Rape 6 - 3 2 - - -Total 1,327 140 647 321 192 2 10

Source: Family Support Unit, Sierra Police

Figures 6.1 and 6.2 give a picture of available and readily accessible statistics, showing that not all reported cases are investigated, charged to court and/or successfully prosecuted. A good number of cases are reported to the Police and other authorities in the communities, but it is believed that many more remain unreported because of traditional beliefs that cases of sexual abuse should be handled as family matters to be dealt with in the secrecy of the home.

There is usually a low rate of conviction. Some cases were thrown out of court, because the prosecution lacked convincing evidence for them to be pursued to a successful end. Also, of note are the cases, which are withdrawn and resolved out of court. This is because the families of the victims are generally poor and illiterate, and there is a tendency for perpetrators and their families to bribe their way out of such matters by paying monies that would normally seem to be attractive to poor people.

In addition, some cases are kept in view for protracted periods, for reasons best known to the police investigators, during which victims get frustrated and drop the cases that had earlier been reported to the Police.

There are also instances where perpetrators of sexual violence are forced to marry their victims, thereby denying such women the right to choose their partners.

Although the Police reported that there were no convictions in 2009, the report from the Rainbo Centre states that out of approximately 4,000 cases reported in their operational areas during the year, only 17 were successfully prosecuted.

Perpetrators were found guilty and convicted to serve jail sentences of between 17 months and seven years.

Figure 6.3 depicts the number of SGBV cases reported for the Western Area to the Family Support Unit (FSU) January to December 2011. The figures were collated from documentary evidence. All key informants including those engaged at

Parliamentary level, reported that domestic violence was prevalent at the national and community level. The data from documentary review also confirms this. The number of domestic violence cases reported is 1,596 and number of sexual offenses is 532. When expressed in percentages domestic violence is 75.0 percent and sexual offenses is 25.0 percent of all types of SGBV cases reported.

Three to four cases of domestic violence are reported on a daily basis in the Western Area alone. The number of domestic violence cases reported and the number charged to court do not match. The same is also true of sexual offenses. 532 sexual offense cases were reported but there is no record of cases closed. This reflects constraints in the data available.

The number of domestic violence and sexual offense cases reported are higher than those that end in convictions. This was the trend in 2009 and it is still continuing. The reasons for the low rate of conviction in 2012 are still the same as those for 2009. The Domestic Violence Act of 2007 in part V Section 20 (1) states: wherein a criminal trial in respect of domestic violence which is not aggravated (a) the complainant expresses a desire to have the matter settled out of court, the court shall refer the case for settlement by any alternative dispute resolution method.11

The law allows for peaceful resolutions of domestic violence matters if there is no grievous bodily harm and the complainant wishes for a compromise. Communities sometimes prefer to compromise with perpetrators in order to maintain peace and to cement family ties. The court system is seen as primitive and leads to the breakup of personal relationships that are highly valued in society.

11 For example by Fambul Tok (Family Talk) at community level in the presence of elders and the community members

Figure 6.3: SGBV cases reported for the Western Area to the Family Support Unit January 2011 – December 2011

Type of SGBV Case Number of cases reportedNumber of cases charged

Number of cases under investigation

Number of cases resolved/ withdrawn

Number of cases kept in view

Lack of evidence

Number of cases closed

Domestic violence 1,596 212 734 275 311 8 55

Sexual offenses 532 134 195 31 120 2

Source: Family Support Unit – Freetown, Sierra Leone Police

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With regards to sexual offenses, there is no codified law and so the police charge offenders under other sections which result in conflict in indictment. When there is conflict in indictment, the cases are sometimes thrown out. A hearing is allowed dependent on the presiding judge. As stated before, The Government of Sierra Leone has prepared the Sexual Offenses Bill, which will address the problem of conflict in indictments and will codify the law on Sexual Offenses.

Following the end of the war in Sierra Leone, its impact on the restricting of social relations continues to be felt. Whereas the social and security situation have certainly improved, women and children remain very vulnerable to social and economic difficulties and violence.12 As revealed in Figures 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3, incidences of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, child neglect, rape and abhorring are still on the rise, and remain a security threat of great concern in the country.

The rate or frequency of SGBV is very high as the FSU receives complaints of sexual assault cases on a daily basis and a good number of such cases are reported to the police who are working in partnership with the FSU. Similar cases are also reported to local authorities such as village headmen in communities where such cases occur but because of traditional beliefs, it is handled at family level.

SGBV is very frequent. Sexual assault cases, which are investigated and sent to court for justice to prevail, are reported more than three times a day. Many other cases go unreported.

The Rainbo institution handles cases of SGBV by taking the assaulted victims to a trained and qualified doctor for medical examination. The centers also conduct counseling sessions, raise awareness and sensitize communities. They engage the opposite sex by telling them to change their behaviors towards SGBV. The centers also empower women and girls economically through village Savings and Loan Associations. Lastly, they advocate for laws against SGBV to be put in place for comprehensive and holistic services.

Rainbo13 has succeeded in Creating Standard Operation procedures for the Police. They have also established 16 community groups for men who have changed their behavior towards women. They partner with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affa s by supporting them on the implementation of the National Action Plan.

Some of the challenges faced by Rainbo include the difficulty in working with the MSWGCA because the Ministry is understaffed. The Ministry has commitments to other NGOs and INGOs. There are also not enough Magistrates and Judges to deal with SGBV cases.

12 International Rescue Committee (IRC), Freetown, Sierra Leone. It also reveals that Gender Based Violence is still on the increase.13 Rainbo refers to service centres established by the International Rescue Committee, Sierra Leone

Indicator 7 – Number and quality of gender-responsive laws and policiesThe GoSL is committed to achieving gender equality and is therefore undertaking reforms and drafting gender responsive bills and policies. The aforementioned Sexual Offenses Act includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, indecent assault, domestic violence, indecent exposure that violate the rights of women/girls, child cruelty and human and child trafficking and rape. In addition to the passing of the Bill, courts are held on Saturdays so that these matters can be expedited. The Government also does not recognize the marriage of any child below eighteen years. This is to prevent parents from removing their daughters from school and giving them in marriage.

Many of the following policies have been mentioned in other indicator sections, primarily Indicator 3. However, they deserve another mention and explanation. The SLP has a policy of affirmative action that has resulted in accelerated promotion of female police officers. The RSLAF is also pursuing affirmative action in recruitment, and upward mobility of female officers. RSLAF has developed a Sexual Harassment Policy.

RSLAF is reviewing the Ministry of Defense White Paper so as to make it gender sensitive. There is a gender mainstreaming policy and the Gender Office. A seminar on SGBV has been held to create awareness that GBV is a crime and carries stiff penalties.

A big step that has been taken is the bringing of Local Courts into the administration of the formal justice system in 2011. These courts are presided over by local elders and they provide justice in most rural areas not covered by the formal judicial system.

The majority of the citizens seek justice in the Local Courts. Bringing the Local Courts into the administration of the formal justice system will help to curtail abuses and infringements of rights especially those for women and the poor.

Indicator 8 - Number and nature of provisions/recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and other transitional justice reports on women’s rightsAlthough some efforts have been made to implement the TRC recommendations on women, a lot more is pending, especially in the Imperative Category, i.e. recommendations linked to governance issues which were to be implemented urgently. They include the following:

▶ Ratify the AU Protocol on the rights of women in Africa;

▶ Grant minimum 30 percent quota for women in the political sphere, including cabinet and parliament, and other decision-making positions, in all administrative and managerial spheres, at national and local levels;

▶ Repeal the provision in the protection of women and girls act, which links the prosecution of sexual offenses to moral character of women and girls;


▶ Endorse and respond to the campaign to end the customary law/practice of compelling rape victims to marry the perpetrators.

In the category of “Work Towards,”14 the government was required to enact national laws on sexual violence crimes in line with the provisions of the Rome Statute, and a free education policy for girls at senior secondary school level, which is yet to be formulated.

All of the above re-echo the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s claims that there are deep-seated discriminatory practices against women, which pre-date the war. The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) with a composition of five Commissioners, of whom two are women, has assumed the responsibility of following up on the implementation of the TRC until the official appointment of the Follow Up Committee is made.

It is believed that the absence of a fully fledged follow-up committee to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the TRC is largely responsible for the slow pace in meeting the set objectives that pertain directly to women. From a broader context, patriarchy and unfavorable customs and traditions have contributed immensely to the low status of women to date.

Indicator 9 - Percentage of women versus men who receive economic packages in conflict resolution and reconstruction processAccording to data sourced from the Reparations directorate of National Commission for Social Action NaCSA, Women and children represented the highest number of victims in the Sierra Leone conflict. Out of 20,107 beneficiaries (Amputees) who receive economic packages in conflict and reconstruction processes in 2009, 24 percent were females, 76 percent were males. Out of children receiving economic packages 43 percent were girls and 57 percent were boys.15

In 2009, 12,003 victims did not benefit from reparations. Of these, 685 women were victims of sexual violence and 8,539 were war widows. This shows that women continue to be marginalized in peace time. In June, 2011, 1,208 victims were given reparation packages. This included victims of sexual violence and the severely wounded. In June 2012, 12,398 victims were given micro grants. This assistance was provided in a bid to promote the economic empowerment of victims of sexual violence. It was recognized by the beneficiaries that the micro-grant of Le 300,000.00 would not promote their self-reliance.16

However, only low-level skills such as driving, carpentry and masonry were catered for. Some participants wanted longer-term support to enable them to proceed to tertiary institutions. Also, only 650 victims of sexual violence are currently benefiting from the skills training. The packages were allocated based on prioritized needs of the victims. Beneficiaries were verified and all amounts were disbursed through the banking system. There is a need to cater to the 14 Work Towards is a category of the TRC Recommendations to GoSL; It means continuing to work towards its achievement in due course.15 NaCSA Reparation Records,201216 Ibid

remaining victims. In 2010 the UN Trust Fund provided funds for provision of skills training for 650 victims of sexual violence to be implemented in two phases. The second batches of victims are nearing completion of their training. Reparation is given out in tranches and this may be due also to the low level of funding for the program. The UN Peace Building Fund granted initial funding. The war victims fund is still grappling with inadequate funds.

Information about the reparations programDissemination of the program was carried out through sensitization, radio programs, public announcements, newspaper notices, interviews, consultations, production and dissemination of outreach materials, support of women’s groups, district councils and traditional rulers. Mobile registration was done in all 149 Chiefdoms.

Victims were reluctant to come forward for registration initially but with support from key stakeholders, many of them registered. However a good number are still left out because they did not meet the deadline. Appeals have been made to Directorate Officials to open a new window for registration but no action has been taken.

Assistance given to men vs. womenMale victims received medical care for removal of bullets and other war related wounds. Male amputees also benefited from housing. Additionally all amputees (female and male) received an additional financial assistance of Le 940,000.00, plus micro grants given to all victims. Another gender specific assistance targeted all female victims of sexual violence. These were skills trainings for a period of 6 months during which trainings were given as well as a stipend of Le 150,000. At the end of training, trainees received a tool kit and $USD500 to start up. Women benefited from the micro grants, skills training and fistula surgery. This goes to show that women’s needs differ from those of men in both peace time and war time. The different assistance given to men versus women brings into sharp focus the gender element.

Humanitarian assistance versus reparationsThe services rendered to victims were in response to the emerging needs of war victims who suffered human rights abuses during the war. It differed from humanitarian assistance because it was a Government response to the plight of war victims. It was not a favor; rather it was undertaken within the context of upholding the right of citizens; and in consonance with the TRC recommendations that victims had to be supported by Government.

Humanitarian assistance was mainly for internally displaced persons and refugees. Reparations went beyond this to target specific persons in various categories who needed to be helped by their Government.

The need for reparations was due to the sufferings of citizens during the war. It has already been established that many more women suffered during the war as they cut across all the five categories of victims. War widows were catapulted into becoming heads of households and so they needed support to carry on with family responsibilities.

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Impact of reparationsReparations for war victims have given them a new lease of life. For women in particular, it has contributed to their socio-economic empowerment. It has made war victims recognize government’s caring role and sharpened their perceptions and awareness that they have a role to play in national development. Within the context of UNSCR 1325, they are now beginning to feel that they are not just victims but active participants in national development. An impact evaluation of this stage may help to access the overall impact of these interventions.

Indicator 10 - Number and percentage of pre-deployment and post deployment for military and police incorporating UNSCR 1325 and 1820, international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law

Pre-deployment training All troops deployed to Peacekeeping Operations by the Police and Military are given training. The Modules used have been developed with the help of the UNIPSIL and adapted from DPKO Training Modules. The training is conducted by SLP partners in the Kofi Anan International Peacekeeping Centre and Pearson Centre, with funding from GIZ. Officers receive pre-deployment training, which includes gender, human rights including women’s rights and international humanitarian law. No post deployment training is done. Only a day’s debriefing is given.

Indicator 11a - Allocated and disbursed funding marked for WPS projects and programs to civil society organizationsUnder the Peacebuilding Fund, Women’s Forum, the national umbrella body of women’s organizations received equipment such as computers, printers, and office furniture to the tune of Le34,000,000 ($USD 8,500) in 2009.

Also in 2009, a nationwide consultative conference for women’s groups was funded with a total amount of Le 72,051,000.00 ($USD 18,012,975.00). In addition, the sum of Le 30,000,000.00 ($USD 7,500,000.00) was disbursed to the Women’s Forum through the MSWGCA for sensitization on the gender laws in the Tonkolili District. Information on disbursements made to other groups around the country is not now readily available.

Indicator 11b - Allocated and disbursed funding to government marked for women, peace and security (WPS) programsThe sum of about $USD 802,000.00 from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund was allocated in 2008 to the Gender Division of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, specifically to implement a project titled “Gender Mainstreaming, Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection.” The Project included components focused on Institutional Support to and Capacity Building for women’s groups.

The Women’s Forum implemented this project in partnership with the Ministry and UNIFEM. The impact of the project which has already ended is yet to be assessed.

Case Study A – Extent to which gender and peace education are integrated into formal educationPeace and Gender education has been integrated into various levels of the formal tertiary education in Sierra Leone. At the University of Sierra Leone Peace and Gender education has been integrated into different levels – Certificate, Diploma, First Degree and Post Graduate. In order to broaden the scope of the integration process various specific courses are being offered. Within the Institute for Gender Research and Documentation studies, Gender is a major focus. Other areas of study include development (health, environment, population) and research. In the peace and conflict unit at Fourah Bay College the curriculum is enriched with outreach and internship programs in addition to specific courses such as Peace education.

The programs in Peace and Gender education have targeted both sexes. A major outcome of the program over the years has been an increase in the crop of practitioners in both fields. The successful integration of peace and gender education into the curriculum at the University has to a large extent been the result of collaboration with both internal and external partners.

Apart from the University Peace and Gender education has also been integrated into the curricular of lower tertiary level institutions.

Freetown Teachers College has been the hub of distance education and emerging issues programs. The emerging issues (EMI) course is a new non-traditional subject introduced in the teacher- training program. It is a behavior change program geared towards changing destructive behaviors that led to the war in the country.

The EMI courses aim to train teachers towards inculcating right and desirable attitudes towards their pupils. These in turn would emulate their teacher’s examples and translate these behaviors into their homes and communities.

The main themes of the EMI programs include human rights, civics and democracy, health and the environment and gender. The gender theme deals with issues pertaining to the implementation of UNSCRs 1325 and 1820 (international) and the Sierra Leone National Action Plan on the resolutions (SiLNAP).

The gender component of the EMI course includes topics like gender concepts, gender discrimination, gender-based violence, audits effects, gender and socio-cultural practices, child marriage, teenage pregnancy and gender and development. The United Nation Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is also discussed. However, the UNSCR 1325 is not discussed.


The EMI course is conducted at the following levels:

▶ Teachers’ Certificate per-service (distance education)

▶ Training for qualified teachers (in service)

▶ Higher Teachers Certificate secondary (distance education)

Teachers have been trained countrywide in the EMI course and facilitators have been trained in each region.

Regarding the application of the EMI course, teachers are trained in the various themes of the course mainly by facilitation methods. They are expected to translate these

themes in their teaching so that the pupils can benefit from the behavior change approach.

At the college four hundred teachers are trained each year – one hundred in each of the four regions. Two hundred and five facilitators have been trained countrywide, 80 in the north, 55 in the south, 45 in the east and 25 in the west.

Consideration should now be given to training upper secondary teachers on EMI. This is because these schools are plagued with many problems like teenage pregnancy, sports violence and sexual harassment.

The war ended ten years ago in January 2002, with the symbolic burning of arms, but the peace that has ensued has been fragile, and scattered political skirmishes continue. The Government and the people of Sierra Leone are committed to sustaining the peace during and after the November 17, 2012 elections.

Although female participation in governance structures has not reached the 30 percent threshold as recommended by the Beijing Platform for Action and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, there is still political will and commitment towards its achievement by His Excellency, President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma and his government. The President has taken keen interest in seeing that the 30 percent quota bill for women’s representation in parliament and other decision making bodies is a priority, evidenced by engaging the various stakeholders who are working towards its enactment.

The top cadre of the two arms of the Security forces – the Police and the Military are pursuing affirmative action and mainstreaming gender in their institutions. They are knowledgeable about UNSCRs 1325 and 1820, thanks to the trainings they have received from international and local institutions including MSWGCA. The SSIs have provided valuable data for this report and were frank and willing to discuss issues and challenges related to implementing 1325 in their institutions.

Statistics indicate that SGBV cases reported to the police and other authorities are still high and conviction of perpetrators and closure of cases are low. Several factors have contributed to this state: obsolete laws, problems in preparing the right charges under the law, lack of evidence and victims compromising with perpetrators.

To address these challenges, GoSL has passed the Sexual Offences Act in August 2012. Bringing different cases of SGBV under this Act may enable the police to prosecute offenders successfully. Even though the conviction rate of perpetrators is low, this should not be seen as a weakness. Rather it should be considered a strength that perpetrators can be prosecuted at all.

It shows that the rule of law is being upheld and the maxim that “a man is presumed innocent until proved guilty” is sacrosanct.

ChallengesThis research was undertaken at the height of the rainy season when it is difficult to move around and to find interviewees in their offices. This is also the period when certain officials take their leave and sparing time for interviews is not a priority.

The November 2012 elections are a few months away and people are more engrossed in discussing politics than UNSCRs 1325 and 1820. With the elections a few months away there is palpable tension in the air which may explain why people are wary of granting interviews especially on sensitive issues like SGBV, political participation, the judiciary and so on.

Some of the institutions could not furnish the research team with statistical data and in some cases it was impossible to make sense of the data provided. This is a shortcoming for some institutions.

RecommendationsPeace and Security in-country at all levels (and also outside the country’s borders) are important factors in socio-economic growth and sustainable development. Peace and security affect both women and men, but when they are compromised as in civil wars, women/ and children (girls and boys), suffer the most.

As evident from the report, a number of programs/intervention aimed at addressing issues of women/gender, peace and security have taken place. However, most of these programs/interventions continue to be implemented with weak coordination between and/or among the relevant sectoral MDAs.

GNWP members in Sierra Leone continue to see the in-country monitoring work as productive work that contributes to the full implementation of the resolution, reporting on the outputs and outcomes and thereby informing the process of peace consolidation and development. Moving forward in

III. Conclusion and recommendations

17

all the areas reported on, as indicated earlier on, progress is being made, but much more needs to be done regarding the integration of a gender perspective. Such work has started with the training of Local Legislators including traditional authorities conducted by GNWP-ICAN and members in Sierra Leone in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) and Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA) in the four regions of Sierra Leone.

In furtherance of the work, we make the following recommendations to Government, through especially the MSWGCA:

▶ Intensify efforts to garner resources for the effective and efficient functioning of the National Steering Committee for the full implementation of UNSCRs 1325 and 1820;

▶ Develop mechanism to coordinate with Statistics Sierra Leone and ensure that sex disaggregated data on budget allocations and spending on gender, peace and security

consolidation programs/projects and activities are collected, analyzed and disseminated;

▶ Follow up with the MLGRD on the development of guidelines for integrating UNSCRs 1325 and 1820/SiLNAP in local Council’s Development Plans;

▶ In partnership with particularly women CSOs, the Sierra Leone Teachers’ Union (SLTU), and the Freetown Teachers’ College, coordinates with the Ministry of Education Science and Technology to integrate gender and peace issues into the curricula at secondary and primary schools levels.

We call on Development Partners, particular the UN Country Gender Team, Bilateral Agencies and Institutions to:

▶ Allocate dedicated funds to women led initiatives on gender, peace and security at national and community levels;

▶ Support the mobilization of funds for the UN Trust Fund for Reparations from various resources, including from that of the convicted former President Charles Taylor of Liberia.

IV. BibliographyCompendium of Gender Laws in Sierra Leone, 2012.

Gender (Equal Opportunities) Policy, Ministry of Defence and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (MOD/RSLAF).

Gender Mainstreaming, Sierra Leone Police (SLP), April 2004.

Justice for All, Justice Sector Survey 2008, Government of Sierra Leone, Justice Sector Coordination Office.

Lome Peace Accord, 7th July 1999, available on http://www.sierra-leone.org/lomeaccord.html

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology/UNICEF-EMI Courses, 2007.

Randell V. 1982, Pg 8 – ‘Women and Politics’, Macmillan, London.

Sierra Leone Reparations Programme, Annual Status Report (December 2008-December 2009).

Sierra Leone National Gender Strategic Plan, 2012-201, Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs.

Sexual Offences Act, Government of Sierra Leone, 23rd August 2012.

The Sierra Leone National Action Plan for the Full Implementation of UNSCRs 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), (SiLNAP); 8th June, 2012, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Witness to Truth: Report of the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Vol. 1-3 Sierra Leone, 2004.


WOMEN COUNTSecurity Council Resolution 1325:Civil Society Monitoring Report 2012

A project ofthe Global Network

of Women PeacebuildersAfghanistan, Colombia, Democratic Republic of

Congo, Fiji, Liberia, Nepal, Netherlands, Philippines,

Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka,

Sweden, and Uganda

“All peace and security advocates – both individually and as part of organizational work - should read the 2012 civil society monitoring report on Resolution 1325! It guides us to where we should focus our energies and resources to ensure women’s equal participation in all peace processes and at all decision-making levels, thereby achieving sustainable peace.” -Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations

“The GNWP initiative on civil society monitoring of UNSCR 1325 provides important data and analysis on the implementation of the resolution at both the national and local levels. It highlights examples of what has been achieved, and provides a great opportunity to reflect on how these achievements can be further applied nationwide. In this regard my Ministry is excited to be working with GNWP and its members in Sierra Leone on the Localization of UNSCR 1325 and 1820 initiatives!” - Honorable Steve Gaojia, Minister of Social Welfare, Gender & Children’s Affairs, Government of Sierra Leone

“The 2012 Women Count: Security Council Resolution 1325 Civil Society Monitoring Report uses locally acceptable and applicable indicators to assess progress in the implementation of Resolution 1325 at the country and community levels. The findings and recommendations compel us to reflect on what has been achieved thus far and strategize on making the implementation a reality in places that matters. Congratulations to GNWP-ICAN on this outstanding initiative!” - Leymah Gbowee, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

“The civil society monitoring report on UNSCR 1325 presents concrete data and analysis on the implementation of the resolution at national level. It helps us identify priorities for implementation and allocate resources to ensure women’s participation in all peace processes and achieve long lasting peace. A must read for all peace and security actors and advocates. Congratulations to GNWP on this outstanding initiative!” - Sadhu Ram Sapkota, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, Government of Nepal

“A beautifully presented, thoroughly documented accounting of what is happening to a resolution that came from the grass roots, was vetted by the grass roots and was lobbied for by women for unanimous adoption by the Security Council. Cheers to the women of the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders for their careful, detailed work. GNWP is also making a unique contribution working at localization. It’s about time that some western based organization relied on local women to plan their own peacemaking program. Local women are planning their own strategies in peacebuilding and adapting UNSCR1325 to meet their needs.” - Cora Weiss (former President, International Peace Bureau, now its UN representative, President, Hague Appeal for Peace)

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Security Council Resolution 1325: Civil Society Monitoring Report 2012

WOMEN COUNT - GNWP · 2020. 1. 23. · roles during the war. Apart from those who were victims,...

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Transcript of WOMEN COUNT - GNWP · 2020. 1. 23. · roles during the war. Apart from those who were victims,...