In the shadows of war

[video] This video was made to accompany Plans 2008 report entitled, 'Because I Am A Girl: In The Shadow of War', which focuses on girls and conflict. Sierra Leone's civil war has pushed the country further down the economic ladder and made the situation of women even worse. Women and girls were victims of rape, assault, and other atrocities practised by the RUF rebels in Sierra Leone. Girls were captured by combatants and used either as forced labourers by families in need of domestic workers or as 'wives'. Many girls had to cope with unwanted pregnancies and raise children from acts of rape.