By Sallieu S. Kanu
FREETOWN, 13 March 2026: The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL), with support from Irish Aid, has validated its report on the status of implementation of the Sexual Offences Act 2012 (as amended in 2019).
Under Section 45 of the Act, HRCSL is mandated to collaborate with the National Committee on Gender-Based Violence of the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs to monitor implementation and report annually to Parliament. The newly validated report covers the period 2020–2024, documenting government progress in empowering the judiciary and executive to enforce the law.
The validation ceremony, held at HRCSL headquarters in Tower Hill, Freetown, brought together representatives from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Rainbo Initiative, Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Support Unit, and Aberdeen Women’s Center.
HRCSL Gender Expert Gloria Bayoh presented the scope, methodology, findings, and recommendations of the report. Chairperson Patricia Narsu Ndanema described the document as a reflection of collaborative efforts to address sexual violence, recalling President Julius Maada Bio’s 2019 declaration of rape as a national emergency. She emphasized the multi-sectoral approach required to tackle sexual offences and commended partners, particularly the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, for their contributions.
Chief Director of the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Charles Vandi, hailed the validation as a historic milestone in enforcing laws that protect vulnerable groups, especially women and girls. He noted that the Sexual Offences Act was one of the key recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report.
The validated report is expected to guide future interventions aimed at strengthening accountability and ensuring justice for survivors of sexual violence in Sierra Leone.