By Brima Sannoh (ATJLF/MRCG Fellow 2025)
Despite the passage of landmark gender laws and ongoing efforts to curb gender-based violence, domestic abuse remains a persistent and deeply rooted issue for women in Sierra Leone, particularly in rural districts like Pujehun.
According to the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey (SLDHS), an alarming 62% of women aged 15–49 reported experiencing physical or sexual violence, mostly at the hands of intimate partners. These figures have only worsened in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed and exacerbated existing vulnerabilities across the country.
In 2023, the Sierra Leone Police recorded more than 10,000 cases of crimes against women and girls. Of these, nearly 8,000 were classified as domestic violence. Despite an overall decline in crime nationwide, the Family Support Unit (FSU) has noted a concerning 1.4% increase in offences against women and children this year alone.
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