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Sierra Leone Police The Integration of a GENDER PERSPECTIVE in the SIERRA LEONE POLICE Dr. Aisha Fofana Ibrahim DCAF DCAF a centre for security, development and the rule of law The Integration of a GENDER PERSPECTIVE in the SIERRA LEONE POLICE Dr. Aisha Fofana Ibrahim DCAF DCAF a centre for security, development and the rule of law SLP Case Study_dps.indd 1 24/12/2012 11:51 Author Dr. Aisha Fofana Ibrahim Editor Ms. Anike Doherty Language editing by Ms. Cherry Ekins Layout by Ms. Alice Lake Hammond: www.alicehammond.com DCAF The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) is an international foundation whose mission is to assist the international community in pursuing good governance and reform of the security sector. The Centre develops and promotes norms and standards, conducts tailored policy research, identifies good practices and recommendations to promote democratic security sector governance, and provides in-country advisory support and practical assistance programmes. Visit us at: www.dcaf.ch DCAF’s Gender and Security Programme DCAF’s gender and security programme works through research, policy and technical advice, and regional projects to support the development of security sectors that meet the security needs of men, women, boys and girls, and the full participation of men and women in security sector institutions and security sector reform processes. Contact us at: [email protected] © DCAF, 2012. The information provided or the views expressed in this publication that are not separately referenced, are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of DCAF. ISBN: 978-92-9222-232-1 Cite as: Dr. Aisha Fofana Ibrahim, The Integration of a gender perspective in the Sierra Leone Police (Geneva: DCAF, 2012) SLP Case Study_dps.indd 2 24/12/2012 11:51 I Contents Acknowledgements .................................... v 1. Executive summary ................................... 1 2. Introduction ......................................... 7 Rationale ............................................... 8 Methodology ............................................ 8 3. Background .......................................... 11 Historical context of the conlict ............................ 11 Security sector reform .................................... 13 Di­erent security and justice needs .......................... 14 Police reform process .................................... 17 4. Current SLP mandate and structure ............... 21 Structure .............................................. 22 SLP Case Study_dps.indd 1 24/12/2012 11:51 II The Integration of a Gender Perspective in the Sierra Leone Police 5. Integration of gender issues into the police ....... 25 Institutional culture ...................................... 25 Personnel ............................................. 27 Accelerated promotion scheme........................... 29 The Sierra Leone Police Female Sta Association .............30 6. Capacity development and training ............... 33 7. Policies and procedures ............................ 37 Gender mainstreaming policy .............................. 38 Policy on sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual harassment .. 39 Human resource/recruitment policy .......................... 41 Promotions ............................................. 42 8. Service delivery .................................... 45 Family support units ..................................... 45 Local policing partnership boards ........................... 47 Community relations .....................................49 9. Accountability and oversight ...................... 51 Internal oversight ........................................ 51 The Police Council ..................................... 52 The Executive Management Board ......................... 52 External oversight........................................ 53 10. Conclusion ........................................ 57 11. Recommendations ................................. 59 Personnel and institutional culture ........................... 59 Capacity development and training ..........................60 Policies and procedures ...................................60 Service delivery .........................................60 Accountability and oversight ............................... 61 Opportunities ........................................... 61 SLP Case Study_dps.indd 2 24/12/2012 11:51 Contents III Annexes ............................................... 63 ANNEX 1: Documents reviewed .............................64 ANNEX 2: Interviews conducted ............................. 65 ANNEX 3: Focus group participants. .......................... 66 ANNEX 4: Interview and survey questions ..................... 68 ANNEX 5: Crime statistics .................................. 70 ANNEX 6: National police headquarters ...................... 72 SLP Case Study_dps.indd 3 24/12/2012 11:51 IV SLP Case Study_dps.indd 4 24/12/2012 11:51 V Acknowledgements This research was made possible thanks to the commitment of Inspector General of Police Francis Munu, whose leadership was manifested in his full and wholehearted support of the gender self-assessment process and the development of this case study. He not only gave of his time but also provided full institutional backing to the project by providing both human and financial support. Appreciation also goes to AIG Morie Lengor for his strong support throughout the assessment process, and AIG Elizabeth Turay, who, as head of the gender self-assessment working group, worked tirelessly to ensure the smooth operation of the process. Members of the working group who dedicated their time for meetings, administered surveys, conducted interviews, analysed data and compiled the survey findings include PC Ralph Sesay, CSP Memuna Konteh, Inspector Theresa Groga, Superintendent Aeisha Bangura, CSP Gloria Tarawally, Inspector Solomon Koroma and Inspector Abdul D. Bangurah. The author would like to express her thanks to the regional police and local unit commanders in the regions visited, for interviews and for making it possible for the working group to administer surveys and conduct interviews in their police divisions. Thanks also go to all police men and women of the SLP who willingly took part in the self-assessment survey and to all the stakeholders, including the parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs, non-governmental organisation SLP Case Study_dps.indd 5 24/12/2012 11:51 VI The Integration of a Gender Perspective in the Sierra Leone Police partners, donors, LPPB chairs and members, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces and the Human Rights Commission, among others, who willingly granted interviews. In addition, the author expresses her thanks to DCAF for providing the SLP with its Gender Self- Assessment Guide and for financial and technical assistance, and to Aiko Holvikivi, Caroline Pradier, Anike Doherty, and Daniel de Torres for their editorial support. SLP Case Study_dps.indd 6 24/12/2012 11:51 VII LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIAT IONS AIG assistant inspector general ASP assistant superintendent of police CDIID Complaints, Discipline and Internal Investigations Department CID Criminal Investigation Department CSO civil society organisation CSP chief superintendent of police DCAF Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces DIG deputy inspector general of police EMB Executive Management Board FSU family support unit GBV gender-based violence GTI German Technical Cooperation IGP inspector general of police IRC International Rescue Committee JSDP Justice Sector Development Programme LPPB local policing partnership board LUC local unit commander NGO non-governmental organisation ONS Office of National Security OSD Operational Support Division PTS police training school RUF Revolutionary United Front SGBV sexual and gender-based violence SLP Sierra Leone Police SLPFSA Sierra Leone Police Female Staff Association SSR security sector reform UNCIVPOL United Nations Civilian Police UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNFPA United Nations Population Fund WISS-SL Women in Security Sector, Sierra Leone SLP Case Study_dps.indd 7 24/12/2012 11:51 VIII SLP Case Study_dps.indd 8 24/12/2012 11:51 IX FIGURE 1: MAP OF SIERRA LEONE Guinea Koinadugu Bombali Kambia Port Loko Kono Tonokolili Freetown Kenema Moyamba Bo Kaliahun Bonthe Pujehun Liberia Atlantic Ocean SLP Case Study_dps.indd 9 24/12/2012 11:51 X SLP Case Study_dps.indd 10 24/12/2012 11:51 Various activities of the Sierra Leone Police in 2012. © Sierra Leone Police SLP Case Study_dps.indd 11 24/12/2012 11:51 XII SLP Case Study_dps.indd 12 24/12/2012 11:51 1 1. Executive summary The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) began its reform process in 1997. As part of this process, the service developed a number of key policies that seek to promote gender equality and responsiveness. These include the gender mainstreaming policy and sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual harassment policy (both 2008). The police also introduced an accelerated promotion scheme and an intensive recruitment procedure to increase the hiring and advancement opportunities for female service members. In 2011 the SLP undertook, for the first time, to assess and evaluate the implementation and effect of its gender-related policies. To this end, it conducted a gender self-assessment in 2011 with the support of the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and a local external consultant (the author of this paper, Dr Aisha
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