By Joanna Howarth | Communications Lead
Sierra Leone has once again been back on the front pages, for the tragic reason of having a number of new Ebola cases, taking the country back a step.
Last spring, the World Bank Group estimated that the three most affected countries (Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia) would lose at least US$2.2 billion in forgone economic growth in 2015 as a result of the epidemic. The World Bank has since reported Sierra Leone to be the most negatively affected country of the three, in terms of lost revenue.
$318 million USD has been mobilised by the World Bank for Sierra Leone’s response and recovery. In terms of response, it has been stipulated that these funds be to help communities cope with the economic impact of the crisis, and improve public health systems.
Whilst AdvocAid fully backs the need for funds to go to the health and education sectors and to rebuilding the economy – all of which have been crippled by the epidemic – no additional funds are making their way to the justice sector, which has been hugely impacted with courts not sitting, lack of lawyers in the rural areas, human rights abuses under the State of National Emergency and overcrowding in the prisons.
AdvocAid’s monitoring of the Correctional Centres has revealed that there’s an alarming number of women behind bars with vaginal infections from the lack of washing facilities and clean water – as hygiene supplies in country inflated in price, and attention behind bars moved to preventing an ebola outbreak, women’s personal health and hygiene has been compromised. AdvocAid is responding to this by applying for rapid funds to provide women with welfare items.
AdvocAid has continued to provide critical free legal assistance throughout the duration of the epidemic, and continues now, as the need shows itself more than ever. The impact of the virus will be felt most keenly by the country’s most vulnerable: women forced further into poverty; orphaned children; children taking on family responsibilities having lost parents; girls who dropped out of school forced into commercial sex work to make ends meet…
Between June 2014 and November 2015, AdvocAid has provided legal assistance to 1,340 girls and women. This has been possible with the continued support of individuals such as you, understanding the critical need to continue to invest in the justice system during health outbreaks. Our thanks and sincere gratitude.
AdvocAid faces a number of challenges within 2016 – ongoing funding is our main one, as funds for the justice sector are diverted elsewhere. We’d be very grateful if you’d consider making a regular gift to AdvocAid, to ensure we can continue our operations working with girls and women in conflict with the law. Thank You.
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