By Politico staff writer
In a bid to Strengthen Human Rights Mechanisms, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Ambassador to Geneva, Switzerland Samuel U.B. Saffa Esq. has urged the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) to continue to provide technical and capacity building supports to member states, and to strengthen national human rights institutions and mechanisms.
The Ambassador made this call at the ongoing 47th Session of the Human Rights Council; during the annual report of the High Commissioner on Wednesday 23rd June 2021.
In his statement, the Deputy Ambassador who doubles as the Deputy Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, thanked the High Commissioner for the presentation of her annual report, and for her leadership in bringing to light the fact that COVID-19 is not only a health concern but also has human rights implications.
He commended the emphasis placed by the Office of the High Commissioner in providing timely advice on human rights-based responses to COVID-19 and for offering evidence-based policy options for protecting and promoting human rights in the pandemic recovering process. He added that Sierra Leone's response to the COVID-19 pandemic is consistent with the laws of Sierra Leone and its international human rights obligations.
"The global health pandemic has laid bare the deep inequalities between and within nations and its disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable", he said.
UN member States recently commended Sierra Leone's human rights records at the 38th Session of the Working Group Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations Assembly Hall in Geneva, Switzerland while proffering recommendations for further improvement.
Ambassador Saffa appealed to the UN Member States to protect the most vulnerable groups in times of global health emergency by ensuring that the rights of access for all to a safe, timely, effective COVID-19 vaccine.
"We underscore the imperative of international cooperation and solidarity as a vital tool for strengthening our battle against the pandemic and consolidating our efforts to building back better", he said
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