On Friday 9 August 2019, Rainbo Initiatives with Save the Children met with community members of Crab town to discuss sexual and gender-based violence and teenage pregnancy. According to Fatmata Sesay, a resident of Crab town, “Sexual and gender-based violence is a thorny issue in the country not only in their community.” She added that sexual-based violence is prevalent in their community. Sesay added that prior to the engagement she had limited knowledge on sexual and gender-based violence.” She said in order for SGBV to be minimised in their community, more sensitisation should be done, especially amongst men, adding men commit the crimes against women and girls.
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Another resident, Albert Zizier, said, “More needs to be done by government to tackle SGBV. Every day we are hearing of rape or sexual penetration involving very young children, which is a disgrace to our nation.” Yeabu Sesay also noted, “Teenage pregnancy is bad for our nation. If we must develop as a country, teenage pregnancy is a hindrance to such a fight at the moment.” The Liaison Officer at Rainbo Initiative, Mohamed Usifu Koroma, said they are trying to minimize SGBV and teen pregnancy in Aberdeen, Crab town, Waterloo and Murray Town. He said teenage pregnancy cannot go without gender-based violence.
MJB/10/8/19
By Mohamed J. Bah
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