By Mabinty M. Kamara
As Sierra Leone joins the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) has in a press statement called for enhanced security and protection of journalists.
November 2nd was declared by the United Nations General Assembly as the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists’. The Security Council Resolution urged Member States to implement definite measures countering the present culture of impunity.
The date was chosen in commemoration of the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November, 2013. That landmark resolution condemns all attacks and violence against journalists and media workers. It also urges Member States to do their utmost to prevent violence against journalists and media workers, to ensure accountability, bring to justice perpetrators of crimes against journalists and media workers, and ensure that victims have access to appropriate remedies.
According to the MRCG statement, since 2018 it has been monitoring and publishing reports on the exercise and legal guarantees of press freedom and freedom of expression issues in Sierra Leone, including invitations, intimidations, attacks, assaults, arrests, detentions and prosecution of journalists and civil society activists. MRCG said it also tracks media performance, with support from the US-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
The latest report published by MRCG, titled: ‘Press Freedom in Sierra Leone’, which was released in May 2020, revealed that it has so far monitored 26 cases that has to do with press freedom issues; twelve of which were concluded, settled, resolved, dropped or abandoned because of lack of progress; five were in court; and nine were under police investigation/inconclusive/stalled.
It noted that most of the arrests were based on alleged breaches of Part 5 of the Public Order Act of 1965, which was recently repealed.
“The MRCG is delighted that President Julius Maada Bio has fulfilled his promise to repeal the criminal libel law by giving his assent to the Public Order (Amendment) Act of 2020 on the 28th October, 2020. The organization also appreciates the fact that the President pointed out in his statement that Government will review the cases of all persons facing charges of criminal and seditious libel under the old law,” it said.
It added: “The MRCG continues to call on the Government, media organizations, civil society and the general public to ensure the safety and security of journalists across the country at all times.”
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