This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
On June 22, 2020, hundreds of people in Sierra Leone took to the streets to protest the rape of a 5-year-old girl who died from her injuries.
The protesters demanded justice and an end to sexual and gender-based violence, citing the country's history of unresolved cases due to socio-cultural factors and lack of capacity to investigate and prosecute rape cases.
According to the post-mortem report, the girl was raped multiple times and died on June 17. The main suspect, a relative of the girl, and a suspected accomplice have been detained as authorities continue their investigation.
First Lady Fatima Bio, a well-known campaigner against sexual and gender-based violence, vowed to wage war against the perpetrator, posting on her Facebook page that she and her husband, President Julius Maada Bio, would fight to ensure justice for the girl and her family.
Protesters also highlighted the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence in the country, citing a previous case where a 5-year-old girl was raped by her uncle and hospitalized for months, leaving her paralyzed.
