Reducing Violence Through Legal Literacy
Domestic violence in Sierra Leone was a major issue, with many women accepting their fate as men were hardly ever punished by the government or traditional leaders. Much has been done to tackle this problem. There is now a police unit that solely deals with domestic violence. However, this is limited to the urban areas. In rural settings, domestic violence is still rife.
Our partners in Sierra Leone work very hard to tackle this issue in rural communities. In Malal Mara Chiefdom our partner SLYEO had noticed a reduction in domestic violence through raising awareness of the Gender Act in Reflect sessions. Women and men have come together to talk about the issues openly, highlighting their concerns and the effect domestic violence has on people. As this has been talked about openly and the community have cohesively agreed that domestic violence is unacceptable, a man who decides to hit his wife is now answerable to the community. There has been a significant change in the attitude of men towards domestic violence in the communities where SLYEO work.
Legal literacy provides beneficiaries with basic knowledge of laws and legislation. It helps to strengthen the capacity of individuals to secure a more just environment. By making people aware of their rights, they are able to grow out of fear and readily defend them.