By Fatmata Tidankay Kamara (ATJLF/MRCG Fellow 2025)
The Sierra Leonean civil war was characterized by mass displacement of civilians, looting and destruction of properties.
Innocent civilians caught up between the rival sides were subjected to rape, abduction, forceful recruitment, amputation and of course death. Among these were children who were also forced to be perpetrators and cause atrocities on civilians.
The post-war Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recorded that the conflict heavily impacted children, whose rights were violated.
“The conflict in Sierra Leone impacted heavily on children, as their rights were systematically violated by all of the armed factions. Children suffered abduction, forced recruitment, sexual slavery and rape, amputation, mutilation, displacement, and torture. They were also forced to become perpetrators and carry out aberrations, violating the rights of other civilians,” Vol.3B Chap.4 P.234 Sec.7 of the report reads.
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