Sierra Leone has declared a national emergency over sexual and gender-based violence after recorded cases of rape and assault doubled over the last year.
President Julius Maada Bio announced the emergency on Thursday amid a public outcry over the issue, triggered by a series of high-profile attacks.
Mr Bio said attacks on minors – which account for a third of all cases – would be punished with a life sentence.
Activists say many assaults are not punished under current laws. Read more