By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
As part of many recommendations to ensure peace and stability in Sierra Leone, the country’s Labour Congress has called on the Sierra Leone Police to make detention facilities across the country accessible to human rights groups in order to ascertain they are designed to uphold the dignity and rights of detainees.
The group in a Press Statement following a General Meeting, also called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to engage the Sierra Leone Police to ensure that detention facilities are human rights friendly.
The trade union establishment’s statement came after a consultative engagement with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) where they discussed issues relating to the promotion and maintenance of peace and security in the country.
Labour Congress acknowledged the importance of peace and security but expressed concern at what they say is the intolerable political atmosphere prevalent in the country that could create divisions amongst citizens.
Due regard was given for the critical role democratic good governance can play in maintaining peace and security, particularly inclusive participation and respect for trade unions and fundamental human rights in the Country.
But concern was also expressed dissatisfaction over the seeming lack of respect for the role and rights of trade unions and CSO’s by state institutions.
The likelihood of the use of the Proportional Representation System for electing Members of Parliament in the 2023 Elections was also highlighted. Mentioned also was what was described as the shrinking space to accommodate civil society views on national issues as well as doubt expressed by some political parties on the role of National Elections Watch (NEW) in monitoring and observing public elections.
However Congress recommended that government should create an enabling environment for citizens to participate in the democratic processes through regular education, consultations and dialogue. They urged parliament to take into consideration the interest and views of the people, and the peace and security of the country in the enactment of public elections reforms laws.
They also suggested that the government and Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) to do a critical analysis of the situation that warranted the use of the Proportional Representation System in 1996 and 2002 and what obtains now, before taking a decision on the electoral system to be used for the 2023 elections.
The workers’ union also urged parliament to disregard the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) as additional mandatory criteria for Voter Registration for now due to challenges with civil registration nationwide.
Labour Congress is the umbrella organization of trade unions in Sierra Leone with 32 registered affiliated groups that operate and service workers in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy. The theme for the meeting was: ‘’Ensuring Peace and Security in a Democratic State and Role of Trade Union and Civil Society Organizations in Sierra Leone’’.
The event was supported by the African Regional Organization of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa).
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