Anti-discrimination law

According to the Sierra Leone 2013 Human Rights Report [1], various levels of discrimination are experienced by different societal groups. Some of these come in the form of “social discrimination and violence against women and girls, including female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C); official and societal discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals; discrimination against those with disabilities; and vigilante violence.”

Rape and Domestic Violence: The law prohibits rape, which is punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment; however, rape was common and viewed more as a societal norm than a criminal problem. A new Sexual Offenses Act, establishing the age of consent at 18 and specifically prohibiting spousal rape, took effect in 2012.

Domestic violence is an offense under the 2007 Domestic Violence Act, however substantial amount of women felt that beatings were very often justified.

The Persons With Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment and provision of state services, calls further for free health care and education for the disabled, equal access to government buildings, housing, and public transportation, and provision of rehabilitation services

National Commission on Persons with Disability also began in February 2013- Commission, however, is highly underfunded. 

 

[1] http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/220368.pdf