Rape now a national crisis in Sierra Leone

FREETOWN: Sierra Leone’s president has officially declared a national emergency on rape and sexual violence in a major step towards addressing the issue in the country.

President Julius Maada Bio said that each month, hundreds of cases of rape and sexual assaults are being reported against women, girls and babies.

He said some deaths included 3-month-olds and that 70% of survivors are younger than 15.

Bio wants to raise awareness since thousands of cases are unreported because of a culture of silence or indifference.

He said he has now made sexual penetration of minors punishable by life imprisonment.

The current law carries a maximum penalty of 15 years, and very few cases have been prosecuted.

Bio’s declaration comes after months of campaigning by activists. | AP African News Agency (ANA)

THOUSANDS of demonstrators march in the streets as they chant anti-government slogans during a protest to demand the resignation of President Jovenel Moise and demanding to know how Petro Caribe funds have been used by the current and past administrations, in Port-au-prince, Haiti, on Thursday. Much of the financial support to help Haiti rebuild after the 2010 earthquake came from Venezuela’s Petro Caribe fund, a 2005 pact that gives suppliers below-market financing for oil and is under the control of the central government. | AP African News Agency (ANA)