Girls Advocacy Program Plan Sierra Leone

Violence against girls and young women and the denial of their economic rights stand in the way of achieving meaningful gender equality. Serious violations of these human rights affect millions of girls and young women. Societies pay a high price for not tackling these issues. Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world and ranked 181 of 188 in the Human Development Index 2014. Of an estimated population of 6.3 million, approximately 53 per cent are children up to the age of 19. Sierra Leone’s youth unemployment rate is estimated at 70 per cent and there are few jobs for young women in formal employment. Agriculture and non-formal employment are the major sources of income for both male- and female-headed households. More women than men work in the non-formal employment sector. In rural areas women constitute 84 per cent of the non-formal labour market, and 63 per cent in urban areas. Sierra Leone is a very male-controlled society with high gender inequality. There are many inter-related problems of gender based violence (GBV) and economic exclusion there. Girls and young women in rural areas are especially vulnerable because they have limited access to economic assets and opportunities. This increases their dependence on men and their vulnerability to GBV and teenage pregnancies. GBV and teenage pregnancies also negatively affect their ability to finish school and their access to economic assets and opportunities, including finding work (of their choice).