Sierra Leone: Women's Advocates Conclude Seminar On Violence Against Vulnerable Women
By: Salifu Conteh

June 19, 2006 – (Standard Times) A local non-government organization, Women's Advocate, advocating for women's rights and other related issues in Sierra Leone and the west African sub-region, concluded a one-day seminar on "Violence against vulnerable women in Sierra Leone" at the YWCA in Freetown on Friday, 16th June 2006. The seminar attracted participants from various walks of life including especially women who have made indelible marks in the society as well as young girls who are engaged in prostitution.

The chairman, Mr. Samuel Tarawalie, a youths officer at the Youth Center at Garrison Street in Freetown, thanked the organizers for taking up such a venture despite the odds, and noted that it is good to discuss women's issues especially in the area of violence and sexually abused women because they are the ones that brought us into this world, they are our sisters and wives. He said most of the street girls are not out in the street by themselves but due to circumstances believed to be beyond their control as well as physical and psychological abuse and brutality from male counterparts. Mr. Tarawalie condemned barbaric acts against women and referred to it as "completed madness," adding that street boys and girls prostituting depict that someone, somewhere has neglected his/her responsibility.

One of the organizers of the seminar, Ms Victoria Yeama Coker said it was established a year ago by university women to cater for the rights of other women in Sierra Leone with respect to the men, and since then it has been catering for vulnerable women, whom they believe can also contribute positively to the development of the nation if adequately empowered. She said they have no external funding but through personal means they have been able to hold the organization together as well as engaging in seminars and other sensitization programmes for self-reliance and development.

Delivery the keynote address, Ms. Isatu Jabbie lamented that though women formed 51% of the country's population, yet still they are the less fortunate, poor, and uneducated, and suffer abuses from the men. She recalled the creation story that God created both male and female to replenish the earth and work as mates, complementing each other. She noted that some street girls are responsible for their own predicament and not the war or poor family background as some may claim. She strongly warned young girls about the dangers of prostitution and the killer disease HIV/AIDS, and to refrain from the adage "wan man nor dae full box" so that they can learn to be confident and self reliant.

The HIV/AIDS Support and Care Association representative, Mr. Arnold Macauley welcomed participants for taking the bold step to attend such a seminar, noting that women are the custodians of the world, which is why educationists say when you educate a woman you educate a nation. Prostitution, for whatever means is a bad thing, he said, adding that it was condemned by God, as stipulated in both the Bible and Quran. Mr. Macauley stressed that HIV/AIDS is real and it is a thing that should not be treated lightly, and advised girls to refrain from unsafe sex and prostitution.

Speaking, on behalf of some of the affected youths at Garrison Street, a young lady whose name is withheld revealed, in tears, that it is not their wish to engage in prostitution but attributed it to the war and neglect by family members. She said that since the war ended, she has not set eyes on neither her parents nor a family member, and now she had two kids. She also maintained that they are tired with such a life, but a lot of NGOs have cheated them with all kinds of programs. However, the girls promised to seize any opportunity for a training programme that would help them leave the life of prostitution.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200606200257.html