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IRC Sierra Leone Rainbo Centres – an Overview, January 2013

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IRC Sierra Leone Rainbo Centres – an Overview, January 2013 IRC Sierra Leone Rainbo Centres – An Overview, January 2013 The IRC has been present in West Africa for over ten years and implementing programmes in Sierra Leone since 1999. As Sierra Leone is now in transition from relief and rehabilitation to development, the IRC is currently implementing programmes in the areas of child protection, education, gender- based violence, and health. The IRC country programme is managed from the head office in Freetown and has three field offices in Kenema, Kono and Kailahun. The IRC has been implementing specific programmes to promote and protect the rights of women and girls affected by gender based violence in various countries since 1998 and in Sierra Leone since 2001. During this time, the IRC has established the Rainbo Initiative, comprising three Sexual Assault Referral Centres in Freetown, Kono, and Kenema respectively, which provide holistic and high quality medical, psychosocial and legal referral services to survivors of sexual assault. Currently the Women’s Protection and Empowerment / Gender Based Violence Programme (WPE/GBV) implements programming activities in Freetown and the Eastern Region of Sierra Leone that encompass the following components: Prevention of violence against women and girls through community awareness, male engagement, school gender clubs, and training activities at various levels; Economic empowerment of women and girls through improved access to economic strengthening services; Services to survivors through the Rainbo Centres and community-based systems; and Advocacy and engagement with government at all levels to strengthen implementation of existing laws and policies to promote the rights of women and girls in Sierra Leone. The Rainbo Centres, originally known as the Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) were established, respectively, in Freetown in 2003; in Kenema in 2004; and in Koidu in 2005. The centres are designed to provide consistent, appropriate, timely and accessible medical and psychosocial services to survivors of sexual violence from the town and its surrounding communities. The centres work very closely with the Family Support Units of the Sierra Leone Police, and with other local service providers addressing GBV issues, to establish and maintain a comprehensive and holistic system for providing support to survivors of GBV in the areas of health care, legal protection, psychosocial support, and personal security. Each centre is embedded in a hospital premises: in the Koidu Government Hospital; the Kenema Government Hospital; and the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital in Freetown. The centres receive clients from a variety of referral mechanisms, including the SLP-FSU and health centres; other organizations and service providers, and other government agencies. A significant number of clients are also self-referred or referred through family and friends. For all survivors visiting the Rainbo Centre, services are provided as requested and on consent of the survivor. Medical care and examinations are conducted by midwives employed at the centre, while contracted doctors provide medical examinations and medical certificates for legal purposes, if a survivor wishes to pursue her case in court. Additional medical services provided as requested include pregnancy testing, STI treatment, HIV testing and counselling and post-exposure prophylaxis, treatment for wounds and injuries, and other basic care as needed. In addition to health care, survivors receive psychosocial and counselling support; assessment and information on options available; assistance in planning their next steps; and follow-up case management support as requested. Centre counsellors support the survivor in making decisions 1 concerning her next steps, according to her individual wishes, concerns, and needs. In the case of child survivors, this is done in consultation with the parents or caregivers. Depending on the situation, survivors are encouraged to return to the centre on subsequent dates for follow up treatment, assessment and other services. On some occasions, centre staff will conduct follow up visits to the survivor’s home, if the survivor does not come for the scheduled visit to the centre. Survivors are given logistical and financial support to follow up with the required police/legal documentation, if they choose to pursue their case legally. Survivors are also provided with minor support for transport, clothes, and/or food if needed on their initial visits to the centre. Survivors are also supported (to a limited extent) financially and psychosocially to pursue their cases in the formal court system if they choose to do so. The Rainbo Centre staff prepare and maintain documentation for all survivors seeking services at the centre, on the consent of the survivor. Documentation includes intake assessments and information concerning referrals and follow-up services and support. However, all centres operate under the highest level of confidentiality and privacy with respect to information on survivors and incidents. Information is shared with other service providers and relevant individuals, only on consent of the survivor; on a need-to-know basis; and within strict protocols and procedures. In the case of children, this consent is normally obtained from the child’s parents or caregivers. Due to the nature of its services, the vast majority of survivors seeking services at the Rainbo Centres are survivors of rape or sexual assault. However, the centres do also see survivors of domestic violence and other types of Gender Based Violence. In the year 2011 (January – November), the Rainbo Centres received a total of 1,661 survivors seeking services across the three centres. Of this total, 1,500 were survivors of rape or sexual assault; 62% of survivors were between the ages of 12 and 17; and 22% were less than 11 years old. The Rainbo Centres are fully supported by the IRC, through funding support from Irish Aid and the Novo Foundation. Currently, there is one centre manager, two midwives, two counsellors, and one cleaner working at each centre. IRC also maintains contractual agreements with one independent medical doctor at each centre to provide forensic examinations and medical certificates for those survivors that wish to pursue their cases through the formal legal system. Centres are logistically supported by the IRC offices in each location – Freetown, Kenema, and Kono. Prepared by the IRC Gender-Based Violence Programme IRC – Sierra Leone, January 2013 2 .
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