Nasratu Kargbo
Chairperson for the Human Rights Commission Sierra Leone (HRCSL) Patricia Narsu Ndanema has said that the complaints received by the commission increased in 2020 from 326 in 2019 to 363. She said this on Wednesday 1st December 2021, during the presentation of the 14th edition of the state of human rights report 2020.
According to Ndanema, most of the cases received are in relation to the denial of property rights which is said to constitute 15%. She explained that the denial of property rights is recorded as the highest of all complaints received. She added that the denial of workers’ rights or benefits and other related matters were also issues that were brought up by individuals.
She noted that the Covid-19 pandemic restricted the enjoyment of several rights. However, she noted that Article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights requires states to take positive measures during public emergencies when the nation feels threatened.
Speaking on media rights, she said freedom of press and speech on radio, television, and newspaper has operated in the country without any obstruction. Ndanema explained that the commission did not observe nor receive complaints from any media institution or individual of being denied the right to exercise their freedom of speech. She added that the government has created a friendly atmosphere wherein journalists can operate without fear “Government took bold steps to repeal Part V of the Public Order Act of 1965, which criminalized free speech. This was to increase citizens’ participation in governance and create an enabling environment for journalists to freely practice their trade. All pending cases of journalists related to seditious libel provisions were removed out of court”.
The Chairperson asked for a new government white paper “We call on the government to make a pronouncement on the publication of a new government white paper in respect of the Constitutional review, being one of the government's voluntary pledges at the UPR”. She recommended that the president should give the permission to the Ministry of Finance for the development of a national human rights action plan, in order “to commit his government to enact a law that addresses individual police accountability for violations of human rights as it happens in other countries”.
President Julius Maada Bio explained that he had promised to improve governance and ensure that citizens’ rights are protected, “I also made a manifesto commitment to review the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee and boldly accept recommendations. I have an unbroken record for keeping my promises and this too shall be kept in short order”.
Responding to the issue of individual policing, he said “Government recognizes the rationale behind individual police accountability for violations of human rights. More training of Police in de-escalation techniques when dealing with citizens, more scrutiny by the press and by citizens of Police work, and ongoing reforms and restructuring has reduced the number of fatal incidents, but Government acknowledges that more can be done”.
The President explained that the government has noted the requests made by the commission with regards to developing a National Action Plan on Human Rights. He added that given the current constraints in the budget, the government will review the requests made.
Copyright © Politico Online 03/12/21
