By Chernor Alimamy Kamara & Nasratu Kargbo
Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI), has in a report said they have documented over 200 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases across several military barracks in the country during an investigation they conducted, noting that there is ‘credible evidence’ in that regard.
CHRDI noted that for far too long, women have been subjected to gender-based discrimination and violence in the workplace and that when no one is held accountable, it creates a hostile environment for all survivors, and sends a message to criminals that they can act with impunity.
It, therefore, warned that violence against women in the Army should be stopped. The report further advised that: “Proactive steps should be taken at all levels to end sexual harassment within RSLAF, as many of these women do not only serve their country with the same level of sacrifice as men do, but they also serve their families and, in many cases, they are the primary caregivers to children and the elderly in their household.”
It added that serving women in the RSLAF/MoD should be given the respect and recognition they deserve. CHRDI reiterates that they have evidence that indicates that: “Despite the government’s efforts to address sex-based abuses, a lack of accountability for official misconduct and mechanism to hold perpetrators accountable persisted at all levels of the Army, contributing to widespread impunity.”
It noted that the new International Labour Organization (ILO) Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019, is an opportunity for Government to strengthen its obligations towards ending gender-based violence in the workplace.
It added that they believe the issues raised stand in marked contrast with RSLAF’s rhetoric and almost every point raised in the institution’s Mission Statement. They pointed out that, RSLAF cannot build the image of a respected member of the peace mission community while allowing appearances of gender-based violence to thrive within its ranks.
Meanwhile Officers of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) has described CHRDI’s report as “fake, imbalance and not credible”. Speaking during the weekly press briefing at the Ministry of Information and Communications on Thursday 6th January 2022, Assistant Chief of Defense Staff Operations and Plans at the Ministry of Defense Brigadier General Ronnie B. Harleston denied certain claims contained in the report. Harleston refuted CHRDI’s claims of sexual harassment in the armed forces and stated that they have not received any report of sexual harassment or exploitation. He explained that they are a statutory institution that is governed by law. The officer said sexual exploitation and related issues cannot find a place in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces”
He mentioned the gender and equal opportunity office which was
tasked with various activities such as setting up an office, footing bills for the implementation partners from Ghana, empowering and training and developing gender sensitive policies for the RSLAF, which he said were the benchmarks set to access the sum of two hundred and ninety
thousand dollars. He admitted their institution is under investigation for
mismanagement just as stated in CHRDI’s report and that the Anti-Corruption Commission will soon release its findings.
RSLAF’s Commander for the Joint Medical Unit at the 34 Military Hospital Colonel Dr. Steven Sevalie said the CHRDI report lacks accuracy, credibility and balance, noting that from the report it seems as though the institution never did thorough consultations. Responding to the issue mentioned in the report that the X-Ray machine has been inoperable since 2017 and has still not been repaired, the Colonel said “equipment are bound to wear out and from time to time there is need to repair them”.
Sevalie admitted that they have been faced with challenges with the X-ray machine but noted that besides the X-ray machine the report was referring to, they have another X-ray which is functioning now at the infectious disease unit.
He revealed that the Ministry of Defence is trying to procure additional X-ray units and that they have also won a global fund grant from which procurement would be made. He spoke on the alleged over thirty six thousand dollars collected by RSLAF on a quarterly basis from the state for X-rays film, saying the government has procurement policies and that suppliers are paid by the Ministry of Finance. “The idea that the Ministry of Defence collects that sum of money does not have a place, this is rubbish”, he stated. He later on highlighted some of the facilities and ongoing improvements being made at the hospital.
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