REFLECTION, PRAYER AND A HUMBLE SUGGESTION ON THE 16DAYS “GET YOUR HANDS OFF OUR GIRLS” CAMPAIGN

My dear First Lady Mrs Fatima Bio,

Before the 16days of activism end, let me use this opportunity to congratulate and thank you for making the plight of the girl child and woman your priority. Indeed, behind every successful man there is a woman. I join you and other sincere women in the country and the world to fight against this menace eating into the fabrics of our society. I however have a prayer for you that I want to make public. May our good Lord direct you to identify strong people to work with to realize your dream and save the vulnerable in our society. 

I am still struggling to understand the actual intention of our activists in this country. Before you even conclude that I might be generalising, let me quickly state here that we have few genuine ones who will help you in this fight but I'm afraid to state that the genuine ones are in the minority. I am really tired and frustrated with them and will work my work but also actively pray for God's direction for you. 

I actually posted my picture on social media to respect and support the call against rape and sexual assault in our society. What is getting me worried and frustrated is the question always hunting me as to whether the people who really pose as activists against rape and sexual assault are serious about their intentions or are just posing to seek attention or source more money from donor organisations and well-meaning Sierra Leoneans?

As a state counsel, I have been actively involved in investigation and trial of sexual offences, witnessed and experienced the processes involved in rape and sexual assault from investigation through trial to conviction. I know the challenges encountered by criminal justice officials to handle cases of rape and sexual assault. Madam first lady, help me tell our activists that activism is an art which doesn't only ends in the expression of strong emotions. It doesn't only ends in marching along the street, displaying banners and placards or seeking funds. It also involves monitoring, counselling, capacity building, support etc. Where are our activists when victims continuously suffer emotional torture during investigation and trial? Where are our activists when investigating officers get stuck in the conduct of their investigations due to lack of facilities or because witnesses could not be traced to corroborate evidences? Where are our activists when state prosecutors struggle to get witnesses to come to court to testify? Where are they when victims and their family members crave for physical, social and psychological support during investigations not to talk of full blown trial at the High Court? Are they even aware that in most of these sexual offences matters, the accused is known to the victim and the breach of trust and betrayal compounds the abuse and adds to the trauma and distress which makes it necessary for the provision of support? Do these activists even think about the possibility that some of these sex predators might be psychologically sick recidivists who need counselling and treatment even at the correctional center? Do they care to monitor the treatment and counselling of sexual offenders during and after their time spent for effective reformation?

Let me take your memory back to the Hannah Bockarie saga. Hannah Bockarie was brutally killed around August 2015. Her cause of death from the postmortem report of the pathologist included fractured wings of the hyoid bone, dislocation and fracture of her cervical vertebrae, manual strangulation and massive intra-cerebral hemorrhage as a result of blunt force injury on the head plus spinal cord injury, swollen vagina and vulva. Thousands of women led by activists marched along the street of Freetown, even before the postmortem report, in protest of the horrible act and varying sexual assault against women. Women sang the protest song "we shall overcome" and carried placards which read "we want justice", "we are all Hannah" and "no more rape". One of the activists blamed the security sector and stated emphatically "if the security forces are not ready, we women are now ready to take our security matters seriously. We don't have physical weapons but we have what it takes to say no to rape". I'm still wondering what that really means anyway when we are still experiencing loads of humiliating sexual assault. 

It might interest you to know Madam first lady that trial of the late Hannah Bockarie is still ongoing at the High Court since 2015 with loads of challenges especially relating to non-appearances of witnesses and the repeated absence of jurors. Please ask some of these activists who were on the street displaying placards and banners (even before medical report was out) about the status of that matter. With the exception of few media houses, I see none of these activists in court. How many have even assisted the prosecutors in tracing witnesses? How many of them monitor the court to help with prevailing challenges including the constant absence of jurors? How about the financial, social and psychological help to victims and their families? How many of these activists provided or are still providing support to the lady's family including her grandfather Rtd Major Joseph Foray Bockarie who was taken from his house to light the candle to mark the beginning of the procession of activists clad in black for the solidarity march? Are they waiting to take the glory and jubilate when we secure a conviction for late Hannah or blame the criminal justice system when we don't? No wonder we are still struggling in this fight. Speedy trial involves cooperation and coordination. We advocate for more laws with stronger punishments but when there is no conviction, the plausibility of deterrence is a far-fetched reality. When a matter of this sort has taken over three years to conclude with activists posing to be at the top of things when most are actually doing nothing, I'm afraid but we will still continue to struggle. 

Madam First Lady, I will therefore pray for God to direct you. Victims of rape and sexual assault need more than is provided. Access to justice and the provision of facilities for victims of rape and sexual assault are not only important for residents in Freetown. They are also very important for our brothers and sisters in the provinces. There should be adequate provision of facilities which will help investigators to conduct proper investigation and collect evidence which may be crucial in identifying and prosecuting perpetrators. Various protection units and medical centres for victims must be established not only in Freetown but also in the provinces to enhance confidence during investigation and prosecution. There should be the establishment of forensic facilities country-wide and trainings should be conducted on the collection, documentation and preservation of evidence which can be vital in assisting judicial processes. Collaboration with the judiciary to enhance speedy trial from preliminary investigation phase at the magistrate court to full blown trial at the High court can discourage frustrations which serve as a perfect pillar for compromise. Sensitisation in schools and communities on the law, essence of justice on perpetrators and the dangers of compromising sexual offences should be a priority. I applaud the services and commitments of all Judges, state prosecutors, and investigators fighting actively in court against sexual offences. We have been called to serve, to save and serve we must. Finally, I say shout out to the Ministry, L. A. W. Y. E. R. S organisation, UNICEF, other agencies and the genuine activists who are seeking the interest of the vulnerable in our society. With all hands on deck, we are bound to win this fight. 

JOAN M.S BULL ESQ.