By Mabinty M. Kamara
A two-day judicial training and dialogue on human right issues has started in Freetown on Tuesday. The training which targeted judges from anglophone West Africa is focused on experience sharing on common human rights problems facing the justice systems in the sub-region.
President Julius Maada Bio, who opened the training at the Atlantic Hotel in Lumley, stressed the importance of the judiciary in the general wellbeing of the country. He referenced human trafficking specifically as a problem the country was trying to tackle, and the challenges associated with it.
“Sierra Leone is committed to respecting, promoting, protecting and fulfilling the human rights of its citizens. Our courts are addressing issues regarding Human Rights within powers enshrined in our Constitution Act No.6 of 1991. We will continue reviewing how other such progressive treaties as the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights will be. Sierra Leone also maintains its affirmation of the goals of agenda 2063,” he stated.
Bio further assured of his government’s commitment to consolidate a culture of democracy, rule of law and democratic accountability.
“My Government has affirmed the right to education of the child by increasing allocations to education to an unprecedented 21% of the national budget. Together with the right to food, security and quality healthcare, it is at the center of the Government’s Human Capital Development priorities,” he said.
Sierra Leone is a signatory to so many international human rights treaties, some of which have been domesticated. They include the Child Rights Act of 2007, the Domestic Violence Act of 2007, and the Persons with Disability Act 2011, Divorce Act of 2007 and the Sexual Offences Act of 2019, as amended, among many others. President Bio said the country is committed to honoring these commitments.
Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards said in his address that there was no margin for error for the judiciary in protecting human rights.
“As independent judges, we stand as guarantors, guidance, protectors, and enforcers of human rights norms and it is but pertinent and inevitable that we should choose to be competent and diligent judicial officers by equipping ourselves in ways as to acquire or reinforce knowledge in the subject, as to be sufficiently knowledgeable, possessing the requisite knowledge and gravitas to withstand any challenge on human rights, no matter where it is coming from,” Justice Edwards said.
He added: “As an organ of the state, we, like the executive and legislature, have a duty to respect, protect and promote and fulfill the human rights of our respective citizenry, and where the executive and legislature have failed, we cannot fail,” he assured.
Patricia Nansu Ndanema, Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, expressed optimism of the possible outcome of the discussions and training among the judges in the region.
“Application of human rights norms within the justice system is crucial, but if discussions here today are put into action, then I remain very optimistic that they will lay strong foundation to address many human rights concerns within the justice system, which includes but not limited to the long delays of prison inmates to enjoy their rights to be heard and on time and the long term detention without indictment,” she said.
Mrs Ndanema added: “I believe experiences shared here will better improve on the effectiveness of the structures that are meant to restore hope when victims access them,” she said.
The forum which is jointly organized by the Judicial and Legal Training Institute and the International Commission of Justice is expected to conclude today.
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