By Makutu Manneh
Fatou Kinteh, Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, has said a specialized court dedicated to gender-based violence cases will be inaugurated in September, as the government seeks to reduce delays in prosecuting rape and other GBV cases.
Speaking during a special ministerial town hall dialogue with children, Kinteh said the new court is intended to ensure that gender-based violence cases are handled more efficiently and do not remain before the courts for prolonged periods.
“We are just trying to make sure that cases of gender-based violence don’t stay too long in the courts. That’s why this specialized court will be addressing just such cases,” Kinteh said.
She urged members of the public to report suspected cases of gender-based violence, stressing that authorities cannot act on incidents that are not brought to their attention.
“Please, if you know of a case of gender-based violence, please report it,” she said.
Kinteh described rape and other forms of gender-based violence as serious crimes with consequences for victims, their families, and those accused. She noted that convictions in some cases have resulted in prison sentences of 14 years or more.
The minister acknowledged that GBV cases can sometimes stall because of challenges in obtaining sufficient information or securing witnesses. She said delays can also occur as cases move through the court system.
According to Kinteh, the establishment of a court dedicated exclusively to gender-based violence cases is intended to address some of those challenges and accelerate the judicial process.
She also highlighted the ministry’s confidential reporting hotline, assuring members of the public that the identities of people who report cases will be protected.
Kinteh called for greater support for survivors and urged communities to play an active role in combating gender-based violence, saying addressing the problem requires collective action.
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