UPR 38th session - Statement by Sweden in the review of Sierra Leone

President,
Sweden welcomes the continued work of Sierra Leone to address violence against women and girls, including rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence.

However, serious challenges remain. Sweden would therefore like to encourage further efforts and make the following recommendations:

1. Intensify efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence, and impunity for such crimes, by inter alia strengthening training of police officials, medical officers and employees of the judiciary, as well as awareness-raising for the wider community.
   
   
2. Further improve sexual and reproductive health services, particularly for adolescents, including improved access to contraceptives and safe and legal abortion as well as comprehensive sexuality education.
   
   
3. Enact and enforce a comprehensive national law that prohibits the practice of Female Genital Mutilation and support educational outreach, including to local paramount chiefs, on the harms of FGM.

Thank you.