WHO (World Health Organization)

The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency for health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO was created to support its Member States address key health and development challenges. Health is defined in WHO’s Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The Organization aims at strengthening its technical, intellectual and policy leadership in health matters, as well as its management capacity to address the needs of Member States.

The WHO African Region is facing enormous health challenges in relation to health. The WHO Regional Office for Africa has decided to focus its attention on 12 priorities closely related to the 11 global priorities. These 12 priorities are: HIV/AIDS; tuberculosis; malaria; maternal health; child and adolescent health; strengthening of the health systems; blood safety; humanitarian and emergency action; health promotion; non-communicable diseases control including mental health; and poverty and health.

WHO in Sierra Leone

The decade long war in Sierra Leone has been characterized by egregious human rights abuses committed primarily by the rebel forces against the civilian population. Thousands of women and girls were raped and subjected to other forms of sexual violence of brutality, including sexual slavery. The low status of women in Africa and in Sierra Leone by law, custom and practice remains a contributing factor to their vulnerability and may have contributed to the widespread and systematic sexual violence during the war.

Throughout the armed conflict in Sierra Leone from 1991 to 2001, thousands of women and girls of all ages were subjugated to widespread and systematic violence, including individual and gang rape, rape with objects such as weapons, firewood, umbrellas and pestles. Rape was perpetrated by both sides, but mostly by the rebel force Revolutionary United Front (RUF). Although rebels raped indiscriminately irrespective of age, they targeted young women and girls whom they thought were virgins. Many of these young girls did not survive these crimes of sexual violence and many victims were pregnant at the time of rape and miscarried as a result.

The probability of transmission of HIV and certain other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is greatly increased in violent sex and any sex where a woman or girl is injured. Both doctors and other health personnel interviewed by Human Rights Watch reported a high prevalence of STDs amongst victims, as the armed conflict in Sierra Leone, like other armed conflicts, served as a scope for sexually transmitted diseases.

It is the responsibility of the government of Sierra Leone to ensure that future information campaigns on HIV/AIDS are designed both to impart basic information and to help reduce stigma, especially in light of the large number of survivors of sexual violence who may have been infected with HIV.

For more information, visit www.who.int.