Freetown — Bintu Kondowah's sister was raped by rebels during the 11-year civil war. Ever since, she's been too ashamed to return to her village and visit her family.

Kondowah thinks her sister would be relieved if the government came out to acknowledge, and apologize for, the horrible sexual crimes that occurred in Sierra Leone over the last 15 years.

"My sister would be happy if the government apologized officially to victims," she said. "It would reduce the stigma." Yesterday Amnesty International once again demanded that the government of Sierra Leone take action to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report, which include reparation to survivors of sexual violence, legal, social and economic reform, and an official apology to victims of sexual violence.

Amnesty International estimates that as many as 250,000 women and girls were subjected to rape, sexual slavery and other sexual violence between 1991 and 2002 - around 33 per cent of Sierra Leone's female population.

Crimes of a sexual nature were investigated by the TRC and more recently by the Special Court for Sierra Leone. The TRC report noted: "it is clear that there were deliberate policies systematically to target women and girls and systematically to rape and sexually violate them." Amnesty also noted that many of the victims, like Kondowah's sister, were rejected afterward by their family members.

Ayodele Ameen, an Amnesty International campaigner for Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia, said they would work with NaCSA in order to guarantee that reparations are completed transparently.

"A special fund should be set up by government which the government will contribute to, rather than just donor money," he said. "That would ensure that they are committed to it." Ameen also said the government should recruit experts in gender-based violence to assist NaCSA, and also make a public acknowledgment of the problems facing women and girls in the country.

Sia Kamanda thinks Amnesty's call to the government is a welcome addition to the discussion of women's rights in the country. A Freetown businesswoman wants the government to give a voice to victims of sexual abuse.

"We have suffered a lot during the war and it's good that Amnesty are coming out with this recommendation," she said. "Women's rights will be respected and it will help reduce the shame and stigma in our colleagues who have been raped." However, Rashidatu Conteh, a Freetown market-woman said she worries the reparation process will be complicated because many women are scared to come forward and have yet to admit the sexual crimes committed against them.

"It will be difficult for somebody who has been raped to identify themselves and say 'I have been raped, come and give me my money,'" she said. "She would be ashamed." Conteh said although some testified at the TRC, they were not seen, but now they have to identify themselves. "It will be difficult," she said.