By Ishmail Saidu Kanu
The Rainbo Initiative has released its 2025 Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Survivor Incident Report, presenting a detailed account of the scale and nature of sexual and gender-based violence recorded across its centres in Sierra Leone during the reporting year.
The data indicate that a total of 3,055 assault cases were documented in 2025, underscoring the continued prevalence of violence against vulnerable populations and the ongoing demand for survivor-centred response services
Of the total cases recorded, 2,723 involved sexual assault, while 330 cases involved physical assault and two cases involved psychological abuse.
The report further documents 514 pregnancies resulting from abuse, as well as one HIV-related case identified through survivor response services.
The data further demonstrate that women and girls remain disproportionately affected by SGBV, with 3,030 female survivors representing approximately 99 percent of all reported cases, compared to 25 male survivors.
This distribution confirms that sexual and gender-based violence in Sierra Leone continues to manifest primarily as a gendered protection crisis requiring targeted legal, institutional, and community-based interventions.
Age-disaggregated data reveal that adolescents constitute the most vulnerable demographic group. Survivors aged 11 to 15 years accounted for 1,299 cases, while those aged 16 to 20 years accounted for 991 cases, together representing nearly three-quarters of the total caseload.
The report further notes that more than half of all survivors were under the age of fifteen, showing major child protection concerns and the need for strengthened safeguarding systems within schools, households, and communities.
Geographic analysis indicates that Freetown recorded the highest number of cases, followed by districts such as Kenema, Kono, Bo, and Makeni.
The report notes that the concentration of cases in urban areas may mirror both population density and improved reporting mechanisms, while lower case numbers in some districts may indicate barriers to access and underreporting rather than a lower prevalence of violence.
The report also documents several extreme case profiles, which demonstrate the severity and breadth of SGBV within the country. Among these was the sexual assault of a six-month-old infant, the gang rape of a 58-year-old woman by armed perpetrators during a community dispute, and the death of a 14-year-old schoolgirl following sexual assault, a case that indicates the life-threatening consequences of such violence and the importance of timely medical intervention and legal accountability.
With regard to justice outcomes, the report indicates that eight cases made their first appearance before the Magistrate Court, while thirteen cases were committed to the High Court, and nine resulted in successful prosecution.
Although the number of cases progressing through the judicial system remains limited when compared to the total caseload, the data suggest that cases reaching advanced judicial stages demonstrate a comparatively strong prosecution success rate.
The report therefore identifies case progression through the justice system, rather than conviction itself, as the principal procedural bottleneck.
The majority of survivor referrals originated from the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone Police, which accounted for 2,679 referrals, while community referrals totaled 308 cases and partner organizations referred 68 cases.
This pattern suggests that law enforcement institutions remain the primary gateway to survivor services, while community-based detection and partner engagement remain comparatively underdeveloped.
Health-related consequences recorded during the reporting period further illustrate the severity of the crisis.
In addition to the pregnancy outcomes documented, the report recorded 2,179 cases involving other sexually transmitted infections, demonstrating that sexual violence continues to present a significant public health concern alongside its legal and social implications.
In the foreword to the report, the Executive Director of the Rainbo Initiative, Daniel F. H. Kettor, stressed the need for strengthened enforcement of existing protection laws, improved case progression through the justice system, expanded safeguarding measures in educational institutions, and increased investment in community-based prevention strategies.
The report concludes that while increased reporting shows growing awareness and trust in survivor services, the scale and severity of cases recorded in 2025 demonstrate that sexual and gender-based violence remains one of the most urgent protection and justice challenges confronting Sierra Leone.
Accordingly, it calls for stronger coordination among government institutions, development partners, and community actors to ensure that survivor data translate into meaningful legal reform, improved protection systems, and effective prevention mechanisms.
