By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) has urged everyone to maintain a peaceful status quo as the country braces up for the 24th June 2023 General elections.
The commission made this call in a press statement published on the 30th March 2023 on the current public debate on Human Rights concerns in the country.
HRCSL drew the attention of the public to its press statements and reports on incidents of human rights in the past, all of which it said are reflective of the official position of the institution.
It however pointed at statements it released on recent incitements, and the violent protests from 8th to 10th August last year and also observed and monitored the report of human right violations and abuses in relation to the incidents of 17th and 18th July 2020 in Makeni.
It also noted referenced its press release on the monitoring of Quarantine Homes and on the recent spate of violence in the country, ranging from the events at the Freetown Male Correctional Centre on 29th April 2020, the Lunsar incident of the 30th April, to the Tombo riot of 6th May 2020.
HRCSL therefore urges the Government to continue to fulfill its obligation, quoting sections of the country’s constitution that deals with the security, peace, and welfare of the people of Sierra Leone to be its primary purpose and responsibility.
It also urged citizens to abide by the constitution and respect its ideals and its institutions, the National Flag, the National Anthem, and authorities and offices established or constituted under the law. It further admonished everyone to cultivate a sense of nationalism and patriotism so that loyalty to the State shall override sectional, ethnic tribal, political, or other loyalties.
The commission also called on everyone to protect and preserve public property and prevent the misappropriation and squandering of funds belonging to the government, local authorities, or public corporations. It requested citizens to help enhance the power, prestige, and good name of the State to defend the State and render national service as may be required.
The rights and freedoms of each individual shall be exercised with due regard to the rights of others, collective security, morality, and common interest, the commission asserted.
Quoting Articles on human rights, it urged individuals to preserve and strengthen positive African cultural values when relating with other members of the society, in the spirit of tolerance, dialogue, and consultation and, in general, to contribute to the promotion of the moral well-being of society. It also urged everyone to contribute to the best of his abilities, at all times and at all levels, to the promotion and achievement of African unity.
HRCSL assured the general public of its unwavering commitment to the protection and promotion of the rights of all in Sierra Leone
HRCSL was established by Act No. 9 of 2004 with the mandate to protect and promote the human rights of all in Sierra Leone.
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