By Saio Marrah
Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, Desmond Babatunde Edwards, has called on stakeholders to collaborate and support the judiciary to set up a special court dedicated to addressing HIV related human right violations.
The Chief Justice made this call at an opening ceremony of a two day meeting on HIV, Human Right and Social Justice held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown from 17th to 18th November, 2023.
He said setting up of a court to specifically address human rights violations in that regard is something the Judiciary can do while making reference to the country’s existing model court for Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases, which he said has proven that it could be a good vehicle for timely adjudication of cases.
“In this regard, there is need for us to work together to build the capacity of Judges, Magistrates, Police and Law Enforcement Agencies; build the capacity of Human Right Defenders so as to promote and protect the rights of people living with or affected by HIV and HIV affected households, “he noted
Justice Edwards also called on the Human Rights Commission in the country as an institution to aggressively monitor, track and report all HIV related human right violations and provide redress to the affected persons.
He also called on all stakeholders to make concerted efforts to accelerate Sierra Leone’s progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Commenting on National HIV/AIDS Secretariat (NAS)’s partnership with the judiciary, the Chief Justice said, “ It is gratifying to note that following my commitment, the National Aids Secretariat with its Partners have taken up the challenge and are now working with the Judiciary to achieving this- to wit, ending inequality to end AIDS. Our meeting here today is a manifestation of the same.”
On the 27th September this year, he said the judiciary in collaboration with NAS and partners, held the first field visit and engagement with members of key population groups including sex workers and drug users.
The Chief Justice said together with other judges and three senior members of staff of judiciary, they embarked on a ‘moon light’ visit to Texaco, Kissy in Freetown and witnessed the testing of 80 sex workers 15 of whom were found to be HIV positive.
From the 19th to the 21st October this year, judges and magistrates visited hotspots in Makeni, interacted with female sex workers and drug users, during which 150 sex workers were tested with 9 new positive cases discovered.
He said those interactions revealed key issues including arbitrary arrests, detention and bribery by the police coupled with intimidation and human right violations.
Justice Edwards spoke of rising cases of stigma and discrimination in the communities and gross violation of the rights of people carrying the virus including ejection from homes, taunting in school, and ill-treatment of their children.
According to him, such is unacceptable and is a breach of the law.
Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby expressed his ministry’s support to the judiciary in establishing such a special court for HIV rights violations.
While encouraging the public to go to government health centres for test and free treatment, he also condemned those in the act of stigmatizing people living with HIV/AIDS.
He also made a special call for pregnant women to visit public health centres so that babies of those HIV positive can be prevented from contacting the virus.
In his solidarity message, the United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan David Hunt, said every person regardless of their HIV status, ought to be treated with dignity and respect, with equal access to healthcare, non-discrimination, and legal protection, among others.
This dialogue attracted magistrates and judges from across the country. The programme’s theme was “Promoting Social Justice and equal rights in the context of HIV/AIDS”.
Copyright (c) 2023 Politico (20/11/23)
