Nafisatu Olayinka Deen
Freetown, 11th March, 2026 — The Rainbo Initiative has convened medical practitioners, investigators, and prosecutors in Freetown for a landmark medico-legal dialogue aimed at strengthening survivor-centred justice delivery in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) cases.
The dialogue focused on harmonizing medical certificates for sexual offences, reviewing gaps in current medical reporting, and improving the quality and use of medical evidence in court. Organizers emphasized that better coordination between doctors, investigators, and prosecutors is critical to ensuring survivors receive justice.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reform. “I’m making a commitment that the discussions will not be limited to the walls of this room. We’ll see impact not just in courtrooms but in the lives of survivors. We remain committed to strengthening systems within our office to improve justice delivery,” he said.
Daniel Kettor, Executive Director of Rainbo Initiative, described the dialogue as timely. “SGBV is an issue of immense concern. The center of our discussion is the welfare of survivors and how we can continue to provide them with all types of support. We are here to share experiences and find solutions to improve services,” he noted.
State Counsel Vivienne Kabia, who supervises SGBV cases at the Attorney General’s office, highlighted challenges with medical reports in court. She explained that certain terminology used by medical practitioners often benefits defense counsel and weakens prosecutions. Kabia proposed a more “legal-friendly” reporting model to strengthen cases.
Bob Lamin, Head of Programs at Rainbo Initiative, added: “We want to review the gaps in the current medical report formats because feedback from the courts shows challenges. Medical experts report differently from what prosecutors expect. This dialogue is about learning from each other.”
Dr. Ian Wurie, Medical Officer in charge at Rainbo Initiative, stressed the importance of guiding doctors on how to report effectively. “This initiative is timely and vital for enhancing justice delivery for survivors,” he said.
Minister Sesay acknowledged that limited forensic capacity remains a major barrier to pursuing justice in SGBV cases. He emphasized the reliance on medical expertise to present evidence in court and expressed hope that the dialogue would strengthen collaboration between professions.
The medico-legal dialogue marks a significant step toward harmonizing medical reporting in sexual offence cases. By aligning medical and legal processes, Rainbo Initiative and its partners aim to ensure survivors are better supported and that justice delivery becomes more effective, consistent, and survivor-centered.
