News

By Mabinty M. Kamara

Women and children’s rights campaigners in Sierra Leone have strongly condemned a pornographic video that is been circulated on social media involving a minor.

On Sunday, a video was leaked on social media showing a boy and girl in uniform engaging in sexual intercourse.

The Legal Access through Women Yarning for Equality Right and Social Justice (LAWYERS) is among the many advocacy and campaign groups that have condemned both the act of filming and sharing of the videos of a minor.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

The government of Sierra Leone has rejected calls to abandon its policy of protecting patients’ identity and release the names of all persons who contract the Coronavirus Disease.

Both President Julius Maada Bio and Minister of Health, Dr Alpha Tejan Wurie, said this policy would remain in place in respect of acceptable professional standards.

By Kemo Cham

Proactive disclosure of information is crucial not just to prevent fake news from thriving, but it will also enhances the fight the against the Covid-19 pandemic, the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) has said.

The Commission in a statement shared with Politico called on public authorities, particularly those in the front line of the national response efforts, to endeavor to make credible information to the public, noting that this will also ensure accountability in the use of resources allocated to the fight.

By Kemo Cham
As Covid-19 ravages countries along with their education systems, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) has announced a US$250 million funding for developing countries, including 39 in Africa.

By Mohamed T. Massaquoi

A group of civil society organizations in Sierra Leone have called on the government to set aside the rights of privacy of Coronavirus infected persons in the interest of public safety.

The Civil Society Working Group on Epidemics and Natural Disasters, which says its membership comprises more than 30 organizations, said the identities of all those infected should be made public so that people can know who they are and be able to better protect themselves against transmission.

By Francis H. Murray

Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of the Pademba Road Magistrate Court has ruled that lead defense counsel in the treason trial of former Defense Minister, Alfred Paolo Conteh, shouldn’t ask questions that have the potential to expose the security arrangement at State House.

The ruling is part of ongoing preliminary hearing in the matter which also involved two other accused.

By Prince j Musa in Kenema

The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) has denied any wrongdoing in the distribution of rice and other relief supplies to the disabled community.