Our Aberdeen Women's Centre in Sierra Leone specializes in treating injured child and adolescent survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and also helps adult survivors with injuries.
2021 saw 55 survivors being treated at AWC, all of whom received free medical care, including surgery where necessary, and counseling sessions from our social worker.
When an SGBV survivor arrives at AWC, dedicated staff are assigned to their care and they are given a dignity kit to make them feel comfortable including clothes and toiletries, a teddy bear or toy and a hot meal. We focus on providing a safe, friendly and welcoming environment.
Of the 55 survivors treated 22% were under the age of 10, 51% were aged 11-17 and 27% were over 18.
The AWC team works in partnership with the police, lawyers, advocacy groups and other partners to ensure the best care available for our survivors and strive to ensure justice for them.
Violence against women and girls is a human rights violation. Before the pandemic 243 million women and girls, aged 15-49 experienced sexual and/or physical violence by an intimate partner in the past year. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, emerging data and reports from those on the front lines, have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified. Source United Nations
