HRCSL Report Reveals Sexual Offences Law Only Partially Implemented

The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) has found that the country’s Sexual Offences Law is only “partially implemented,” despite notable progress in strengthening the legal and institutional framework for addressing sexual and gender-based violence.

Presenting its 2020–2024 Status Report to Parliament on 10 June, HRCSL acknowledged improvements such as specialised Sexual Offences Model Courts, One-Stop Centres, the 116 toll-free hotline, and referral systems for survivors. However, it stressed that major gaps in the justice system continue to undermine effective implementation.

The report highlights that sexual and gender-based violence remains a serious concern in Sierra Leone, with 2,771 cases recorded in 2024, including 2,607 sexual assaults, according to the Rainbo Initiative. The figures rose to 3,055 cases in 2025, with women and girls forming the overwhelming majority of survivors.

HRCSL Chairperson Patricia Narsu Ndanema told Parliament that key legal requirements under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2019, including a national forensic laboratory and a sexual offenders’ database, are still not in place. She warned that these gaps weaken investigations and make prosecutions more difficult.

The report also points to shortages of trained investigators, prosecutors, survivor support services, and safe homes, particularly outside urban areas, further limiting access to justice for survivors.

While Sierra Leone has introduced strong legal protections against sexual violence, HRCSL says implementation remains the major challenge, as institutions and resources have not fully matched legislative reforms.

The findings have renewed calls for urgent government action to ensure that existing laws translate into faster, stronger, and more reliable justice for survivors of sexual violence.