Who we are

Rainbo Initiative engages communities to prevent sexual violence and make them aware of the laws, know how to respond to GBV and know how to access SGBV response services through local stakeholders and structures that promote gender equality and women’s rights.

Rainbo Initiative Sierra Leone is a global example of a local initiative passionate about ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in communities and society at large.

OUR CONTEXT:  Sierra Leone experiences high levels of SGBV for a variety of reasons including a history of protracted armed conflict, a patriarchal society and institutionalised gender inequalities exacerbated by discriminatory customs. The high levels of illiteracy and poverty amongst Sierra Leonean women prevent them from upholding many of their rights; similarly, economic insecurity contributes to their vulnerability to SGBV. Women’s marginalisation from local and national decision-making processes further limits their ability to redress these gender inequalities. (International Alert)

Reflecting this context, Sierra Leone is ranked 184th in the Human Development Index and 179th  in the Gender Inequality Index indicating the significant challenges faced by the country. Despite some efforts made to improve the legal protection of women and girls, serious violations of their rights continue in Sierra Leone. In recognition of this ongoing crisis, the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, announced a national state of emergency on rape and sexual violence in 7th February 2019.

While there has been significant focus on SGBV in Sierra Leone since the Truth & Reconciliation Commission in 2002, there has been less focus on the fact that more than half of the SGBV being reported to Rainbo is child sexual abuse. There are various reasons for this including the stigma associated with adults reporting sexual abuse and women’s agency and ability to report. However, the data, while incomplete, suggests that there is a substantial problem in relation to child sexual abuse (CSA) and a risk of conflating SGBV and CSA to the detriment of both adult and child survivors.

At the international level, Sierra Leone ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1988 and its optional protocol in 2004. It also ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in June 1990 and its two Optional protocols in September 2001. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended the repeal of all statutory and customary laws that discriminate against women in 2002.

There are two key national policy documents in relation to SGBV namely the National Referral Protocol on Gender Based Violence (2012) and the National Strategy for the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy and Child Marriage (2018). Both of these documents contain key government commitments and are underpinned by legislation which includes:

Sexual Offences Act 2012

Registration of Customary Marriage & Divorce Act 2007

Domestic Violence Act 2007

Devolution of Estate Act 2007

Child Rights Act 2007

The National Referral Protocol (NRP) was developed to make the referral pathway explicit to all stakeholders and ensure that GBV survivors get the support they need when referred. Key government commitments worth noting in relation to Rainbo’s work include the provision of a prompt and coordinated response from service providers, psychosocial support, legal services and free medical care for survivors. (Government of Sierra Leone)

OUR PARTNERS