investigate all allegations of human rights violations, ensuring that victims have access to effective remedies. 68. The Court finds, in the light of the evidence presented, that the State of Sierra Leone failed in its duty to ensure an effective remedy for the Applicant, not only by failing to properly investigate the crime committed against her, but also by failing to ensure the preservation of the medical and police evidence essential to support her complaint. 69. Accordingly, the Court concludes that there has been a violation of the Applicant's right to an effective remedy and access to justice, in breach of Article 7(1)(a) of the ACHPR and Article 2(3) of the ICCPR. b) The alleged violation of the right not to be subjected to discrimination based on gender 70. In support of her argument, the Applicant alleges that the sexual violence she suffered qualifies as gender-based violence and gender-based discrimination. 71. That even though the gender-based violence she suffered was perpetrated by anon-state actor, the State is responsible for failing to take due diligence to prevent the violation, by not taking the necessary measures to provide reparation to the victim. The Court’s Analysis 72. It follows from Article 2 of the Charter that: “All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law 18 EP