By Saio Marrah
Men’s Up Initiative formed to address issues affecting women in society has held its first National Conference on rape and domestic violence, to draw wider public attention to the problem.
The conference held at the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL) Hall in Freetown was preceded by a 100-man march across some streets of Freetown on Friday 22nd July 2022.
Co-founder of Men’s Up, Michael Kpaka said the all-men’s conference was geared towards creating a better understanding of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. He said it’s high time as men use their voices to create change in that direction.
Kpaka linked their motivation to the alarming statistics they got from Rainbo Initiative and the Police’s Family Support Units (FSU) on cases of SGBV. He said they felt the need to stimulate men’s conversation so they will know their roles in creating a safer environment for women and ending rape and other forms of SGBV.
A human rights lawyer and a member of the panel of discussants, Augustine S. Marrah observed that despite the 2019 Sexual Offences Act, harrowing stories of rape continue across the country.
He also spoke about the issue of “consent” when it comes to rape, which he said only applies to a victim aged 18 and above. He said below the age of 18 is a crime called sexual penetration.
An estimated 62% of women age 15 to 49 reported having experienced physical or sexual violence, according to the 2019 Sierra Leone and Demographic and Health Survey (SLDHS).
CEO/ Co-Founder, Purposeful Chernor Bah, who described himself as a feminist, said we live in an unequal society that is not accidental. He said all the systems that existed are essentially to support men in dominating women, a position he disagrees with.
Bah described rape as a creation of society and condemned the act of compromising cases especially when the perpetrator happens to be a relative. He spoke against the tradition of giving boys preferences over girls, especially in the provinces, and also asserted that the dress code of a woman should not be an excuse for rape.
Also the Country Director of Aberdeen Women’s Centre, Rebecca Larsson informed the conference of their treatment of SGBV survivors and providing psychosocial support to girls and women in their medical facility.
The Executive Director, Patriotic Advocacy Network, Ansumana Keita, in an interview with Politico, later on, said men must protect and respect the rights of women and girls because God created mankind.
He said the change the country should be looking forward to is ending rape and domestic violence against women and girls, which he said must be led by men.
Keita stated: “I am calling on all Sierra Leoneans, all boys, and men that we must first cross-check ourselves. We must not think in no way that women and girls are inferior, they are human beings, they have their rights and in as much as we are protecting their rights we must respect them and above all, we must believe that women and girls have the capability and ability to lead in any institution, organisation even become president”.
He said the country should start giving more leadership roles to women in the upcoming 2023 general elections and cited Liberia which he said has already set the standard by producing the first female Vice President in Africa.
The conference was also occasioned by skits, musical performances, and poetry all depicting and preaching against SGBV.
The theme of the conference that was predominantly attended by men was: “The role of Men in ending sexual and gender-based violence”.
The motto of Men’s up is: engage, educate and eradicate.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (25/07/22)
