Sierra Leone declared a national emergency over s@xual and gender-based violence after recorded cases of r@pe and assault doubled over the last year.

President Julius Maada has declared a national emergency over s@xual and gender-based violence in Sierra Leone, all cases to be punished with a life sentence.

Activists say many assaults are not punished under current laws.

He also announced the formation of a dedicated police division to investigate reports of s@xual violence, as well as a special magistrates’ court that would fast-track cases.

More than 8,500 cases were recorded last year – a rise of nearly 4,000 on the figure from the previous year – in a country of 7.5 million people. The factors behind the spike are not yet clear.