Ahead of November's presidential and legislative elections in Sierra Leone,
39 human rights and civil society organisations have challenged the
country's registered political parties to commit themselves to
respecting human rights.
In a joint statement the organisations, led by Amnesty International,
said that the country had made “great strides in its recovery”
since the end of the war in 2002 but added that more remained to be
done.
They called on all candidates “to make a public commitment to
respecting, promoting and protecting all human rights”. They urged
all candidates to “pledge to establish a robust framework to ensure
effective implementation of the human rights instruments to which the
country is a state party”. They want the candidates to commit to
“reinvigorating the Constitutional review process” so as to
ensure the new Constitution reflected human rights. They have
submitted the following pledge to the political parties.
“End discrimination against women and girls.
Ensure women and girls have access to sexual, reproductive and maternal
health services
Ensure accountability for human rights violations and abuses
Strengthen the criminal justice system
Abolish the death penalty
Ensure corporate accountability and transparency in government and business
agreements
Ensure ratification of international treaties”.
The following organisations signed the pledge:
Access to Justice Law Center, Advocaid, Advocacy Movement Network (AMNet)
Brighter Future, Campaign for Child and Youth Empowerment Sierra
Leone-Moyamba,
Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), Center for Accountability and Rule of Law
(CARL), Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDHR), Christian
Extension Services-Kabala, Coalition for Civil Society and Human
Rights-Moyamba, Coalition on International Criminal Court Sierra
Leone, Coalition for Justice and Accountability (COJA), Community
Action for Rural Transformations-Kenema, Community
Biodiversity-Kenema, Community Action for Human Security-Makeni,
Development and Democracy Associates (DADA), Future Focus
Foundation-Kenema, Green Scenery, Health Alert, Humanist Watch
Salone, Kenema Human Rights Committee, Koinadugu Women’s Group,
Lagoonda Youth Progressive Organization-Kabala, Mankind’s
Activities for Development Accreditation Movement (MADAM), Moyamba
District Human Rights Committee, Network Movement for Justice and
Development (NMJD), Network Support for Peace Education-Moyamba, One
Family People, Organisation for Development and Human Rights, Peace
and Reconciliation Movement Sierra Leone (PRM-SL), Prison Watch
Sierra Leone, Rehabilitation and Development Agency in Sierra Leone,
Sabi You Right
Sierra Leone Network on the Right to Food (SILNORF), Society for Democratic
Initiative (SDI), Women Action for Human Dignity (WAHD), Women’s
Forum and Women Yearning for Educational Rights-Kambia.
© Politico 11/09/12
