By Politico Staff Writer
The work of the Rainbow Initiative in the fight against sexual violence has received a major boost with inauguration of a new center in Bo.
The Rainbow Center in the southern district brings to six the number such facilities across the country.
The establishment of the Bo facility, which is located within the premises of the Bo government hospital, was funded by the European Union, through the European Union Delegation to the Country.
A news dispatch from the office of the EU Delegation head indicated that the inauguration ceremony of the facility was held as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence in Sierra Leone. In the statement, the European Union reaffirmed its support to ensuring that psychosocial support and the rights of victims of sexual and gender based violence is guaranteed with the commissioning of the first-ever Bo Rainbo Centre of Excellence.
The commissioning ceremony was held on Monday, December 7 at the Bo Government Hospital premise, where the fully furnished structure built with funds from the EU to help combat the alarming rate of reported incidences of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the country was officially handed over to the hospital administration. First Lady Fatima Bio graced the occasion.
The Bo Centre of Excellence is also one of the five Rainbo centres supported by the EU which provides free, quality, age appropriate and inclusive medical and psychosocial care to survivors of rape and sexual assault. The centre is equipped with appropriate disabled-friendly infrastructure, child friendly facilities including a play room and is providing spacious sitting accommodation.
Jamila El Assaidi, Deputy EU Ambassador, said the EU aims for a world where the rights of girls and women are claimed, acclaimed and respected.
“There is no excuse for disrespecting the dignity and integrity of women. As EU, we strongly recommend that the elimination, prevention and protection from all forms of sexual and gender-based violence be prioritized at national level, at district level and at village level,” she told the event, adding: “Among others, the safety and needs of survivors of sexual and gender based violence must be at the heart of all protective measures adopted. Survivors should have access to specialist support services.”
The construction of the center is part of an EU-supported project towards the Rainbo Initiative and its partners Handicap International and CARE International, to the tune of 600,000.00 EUR, for a period of 30 months. The project entitled “Strengthening Gender Based Violence prevention and inclusive response services in Sierra Leone” started in September 2019. It was designed to strengthen the Rainbo and its partners to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, including those with disabilities. The project supports survivors of violence in five districts of the country.
The opening of the Makeni Rainbo Centre of Excellence was held on 25 November and coincided with the national launch of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence in Sierra Leone.
“This was a very symbolic and powerful moment,” said the deputy ambassador.
“The Bo Centre of Excellence we are inaugurating today is also one of the five Rainbo centres supported by the EU which provides free, quality, age appropriate and inclusive medical and psychosocial care to survivors of rape and sexual assault. The centre is equipped with appropriate disabled-friendly infrastructure, child friendly facilities including a play room and is providing spacious sitting accommodation. The medical and counselling rooms are conceived to ensure the comfort of both survivors and personnel.”
The Bo centre was established with funding from the European Union, Irish Aid and OSIWA. Through the project, Rainbo Initiative contributes to support the national action plan and national advocacy campaigns to combat all forms of gender based violence.
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