Sierra Leone News: Constitutional Review: Human Rights Defenders Urge Government

By Mariama Sesay

Human Right Defenders Network (HRDN), a network of civil society organisations, has urged the government to start discussion on the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) on the review of Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution.

This clarion call was made on Monday by the Executive Secretary of the network Mr Alphonso Gbanie while commemorating the African Human Right Day (October 21).

He described the Constitution of Sierra Leone as too weak for the country to achieve the changes they desire, adding that he is disappointed with the pace of the review process.

He urged President Bio to resume the process by setting up a small panel of experts to review those recommendations and draft a White Paper that responds to the aspirations of Sierra Leoneans for a progressive constitution.

According to him, “given the dynamics nature of society, Sierra Leone cannot let its laws become stagnant; certainly not the supreme law of the land”.

He said that the importance of a progressive constitution is that it guarantees equality and citizen most basic rights, noting that Sierra Leoneans agreed long ago that the current national Constitution has many gaps, and that changes are needed to make Sierra Leone a more democratic and prosperous society.

The Network calls on government to fully implement all signed conventions and protocols, to ratify the African Court Protocol, and a review the Public Order Act (POA) and expunge restrictive provisions.

Mr Gbanie also called on government to commit all those prisoners on the death row to life imprisonment; review the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA), popularize and demonstrate more commitment to the reviewed Sexual Offences Act 2012

The Network calls for the implementation of resolutions of the African Charter on Human and People’s Right (ACHPR) on the protection of Human Rights Defenders in Africa, and promulgate laws protecting human rights defenders in Sierra Leone.

“The network note, as a co-chair of the Global Task Force on Justice, Sierra Leone is being presented to the international community as a model country for improving democracy and good governance, rule of law, justice and accountability. Yet Sierra Leone still remains behind other African nations in the implementation of the charter. The Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to accelerating delivery of SDG targets for justice for all is laudable — but there is still much to be done to deliver justice for all in Sierra Leone,” he said.