Sierra Leone Human Rights
Human Rights Concerns
Stability and security have increased in Sierra Leone since 2002 with the end of the country's decade-long war. In a November 2007 Presidential election widely regarded as free and fair, Ernest Koroma of the All People’s Congress defeated the sitting Vice-President Solomon Berewa of the Sierra Leone People’s Party. The Special Court for Sierra Leone, which is trying leaders from the civil war of the 1990, completed two of its trials convicting five individuals of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Two trials, including that of Liberia’s former President Charles Taylor, continue. The government also made progress implementing recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Three laws were passed to improve protection of women’s rights.
Genital mutilation remains prevalent in the country, rape and domestic violence cases need more aggressive prosecution, and women need better access to justice. The overall administration of justice remains severely compromised by inadequate training, resources, and infrastructure as well as the prevalence of corruption throughout the system. Eighteen people remain under sentence of death. Finally, Sierra Leoneans face grinding poverty. Economic justice eludes them.
UPDATE: Great news for global justice
In 2007, the Special Court for Sierra Leone completed the trials of leaders of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council and Civil Defense Force convicting the five defendants of war crimes, violations of humanitarian law and crimes against humanity. In a landmark ruling, the Special Court issued the first ever convictions for the crime of child recruitment. The trial of leaders from the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) is due to conclude in 2008. The trial of Charles Taylor, Liberia’s former President who supported the RUF, continues. Three years after being originally indicted, Charles Taylor was brought into custody to face the 11 charged of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Read the transcript of the online discussion | Learn more »
Latest News
UN: Amnesty International Public Statement on the Montreux Document on Pertinent International Legal Obligations and Good Practices for States related to the Operations of Private Military and Security Companies during Armed ConflictOctober 14, 2008
Sierra Leone: Women of Sierra Leone Suffer Painful Legacy of Wartimes' Sexual Slavery, Torture and Mass Rapes Years Later, Amnesty International Reports
November 01, 2007
Sierra Leone: Statement on the Sierra Leone Sentencings by Vienna Colucci, Director, International Justice Program, Amnesty International USA
July 19, 2007
Sierra Leone: Guilty Verdicts in Sierra Leone Not the End of the Story for Victims of War Crimes, Says Amnesty International
June 20, 2007
Sierra Leone: Amnesty International Launches Campaign to Win Legal Rights for Women
July 31, 2006
SIerra Leone: Fighting impunity in Africa: Need for a comprehensive and consistent approach
April 03, 2006
Latest Reports
Vital UN human rights work under threatMay 09, 2007
Sierra Leone: Women face human rights abuses in the informal legal sector
May 17, 2006
Sierra Leone: Special Court for Sierra Leone: Issues for consideration regarding the location of the trial of Charles Taylor
April 05, 2006
The call for tough arms control: Voices from Sierra Leone
January 09, 2006
