By Davida Spaine-Solomon
Freetown, 25th February 2026 – Sierra Leone’s protection crisis has been laid bare with the revelation that the youngest survivor of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in 2025 was a six-month-old baby girl, according to newly released data from the annual State of Data launch hosted by the Rainbo Initiative in partnership with the Carter Center.
The shocking case, with the perpetrator still unidentified, underscores deep safeguarding gaps and the vulnerability of even the youngest members of society. At the other end of the spectrum, a 58-year-old woman was reportedly subjected to armed gang rape linked to a community dispute, highlighting the breadth of victims across age groups.
In one tragic incident, a 14-year-old Junior Secondary School pupil lost her life after being referred for treatment following severe, life-threatening violence.
The figures presented at the launch reveal the scale of the crisis: 3,055 total cases recorded nationwide in 2025, 2,723 sexual assaults, 330 physical assaults, 514 pregnancies linked to abuse, 2,179 sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Survivors: 3,030 women and girls (99%) compared to 25 men
Stakeholders described the data as a wake-up call, stressing that the escalating risks faced by women and girls demand urgent action. They called for stronger protection systems, improved community vigilance, and sustained national commitment to ending gender-based violence.
