The State of Sierra Leone and Human Rights

Just recently I went to the launch of Amnesty International’s Report 2011, held at Santano House in Freetown. “The State of the World’s Human Rights” is Amnesty’s yearly contribution to the discussion of human rights successes and abuses.

On my shelf are four years of reports – identifiable by their black bindings. The yellow logo featuring the glowing candle wrapped loosely with barbed wire marks each successive year.

The 2011 Report marks the 50th Anniversary of the founding of Amnesty International. (Coincidentally, Sierra Leone celebrated its 50th Anniversary of Independence on April 27th 2011.) This year’s Report is a 400-page tome featuring short notes on approximately 150 countries. Sierra Leone is on page 285. (The Canadian entry is on page 96.)

A side note: I’d love to see an “Amnesty rating system” so often used by the UN in its reports. Countries are listed alphabetically… not by performance. Perhaps one day in the future…

Sierra Leone – population: 5.8 million

I quote. “Despite some progress however, the country continued to suffer from widespread poverty-related violations of socio-economic rights; a high incidence of sexual and gender-based violence; violations of children’s rights; impunity for past crimes against humanity; justice system weaknesses; non-implementation of crucial Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendations; prevalent corruption; and the looming threat of ethnic violence.”

As the opening paragraph graphically illustrates, Sierra Leone is still a tinderbox of problematic issues. The potential for ignition is high – very high.

The Amnesty Report 2011 on Sierra Leone is broken into eight sections but I’ll be brief.

The Justice System

The report uses the words, “major challenges”, which is a gross understatement. It lists problems such as; an acute shortage of judges, lengthy delays, overloaded public lawyers, inadequate prosecutorial capacity (a fancy way of saying that the SL police force are incapable of prosecuting cases), capacity constraints and corruption.

Prisons are over-crowded and had inadequate medical supplies and food. Juveniles were detained with adults. Women detained with men.

Conditions in the prisons were so harsh that they constituted “cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment,” direct violations of human rights.

Police and Security Forces

“Police brutality, corruption, excessive use of force, poor conditions in detention cells, unlawful detention were all commonplace. Police were ineffective in maintaining law and order. There were no effective police investigations into ritual murder and very few investigations into sexual and gender-based violence.”

In February 2010, police were dispatched to the National Stadium where school children were hosting track and field events. There was a disturbance and the police injured a great number of children – some as young as six years old.

Just recently (May 2011) police used tear gas, batons and “excessive force” on a group of disabled men, women and children living/squatting in a vacant, government-owned building in downtown Freetown. They threw belongings into the streets and manhandled nursing mothers in wheelchairs.

The Press

Libel is a criminal offence in Sierra Leone. The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists have waged a constitutional case through the Supreme Court but the government, despite promises to “review the Public Order Act of 1965, turned down the journalist’s appeals. This severely limits press freedom.

During 2010, the state-run SL Broadcasting System merged with UN Radio to form the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). This innovative experiment was supposed to lead to an independent, public service broadcaster… another “tick” in a box toward democracy and good governance. But that has stumbled rather miserably. SLBC is not independent. It is not a public service broadcaster… yet!

Children’s Rights

“The government failed to uphold and enforce its domestic legislation and to respect its international treaty obligations to protect children and guarantee their rights.” Despite enacting the Child Rights Act 2007, the children of Sierra Leone have little or no protection from abuse or exploitation.

Thousands of children work under horrendous conditions in the diamond mines and along the streets of Freetown. Floggings are commonplace in the primary and secondary schools. Street children run rampant throughout Freetown and too many children are poor, starving and unhealthy.

Violence Against Women and Children

“Domestic violence remained widespread,” according to the Report. Unfortunately that’s a gross understatement. I tend to use the words “rampant”, “everywhere”, “uncontrolled” and very sad. Few cases were reported to the authorities and those that were received “no investigation, few prosecutions, out-of-court settlements and interference from traditional leaders”.

Throughout 2010, there was only one case of domestic violence prosecuted through the courts under the Domestic Violence Act 2007. The Family Support Units of the SL police, recipient of a ton of international donor funding, is totally ineffective. There are hundreds of cases taken to the FSU but after police “intervention” – nothing is done.

Female genital cutting (FGC) continues. Early marriage is still “normal” for girls as young as 14. Rape of girls by close relatives, schoolteachers, and security personnel continued as well as teenage pregnancy, child trafficking, sexual exploitation, and discrimination.

According to a recent (September 2010) study done by Concern Worldwide, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Plan International, “Teachers are the main perpetrators of sexual abuses and exploitation… forcing and coercing girl pupils into sexual intercourse in exchange for better grades, gifts or money.” Twenty percent of girls in secondary school have been raped and 45 percent have suffered “sexual violence” within the school setting.

Maternal mortality

It’s a great idea… especially for a country with one of the worst rates of maternal and infant mortality in the world – Free health care for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five.

However, since the launch of the program in April 2010, the program has been plagued by disorder, corruption, a lack of monitoring, faulty distribution systems, a shortage of drugs, and an unwillingness of the health sector to change.

Other factors that contribute to maternal mortality have not been addressed… unsafe abortions, FGC, early marriage, teen pregnancies, and a lack of reproductive health education.

Political Violence

From the Report… “The threat of violence and ethnic conflict between supporters of the ruling All People’s Congress (APC) and the main opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) remains a distinct possibility.” Clashes between political opponents continued in 2010. Party and ethnic loyalty divides the country.

Perceived ethnic and political biases in the police and armed forces increased mistrust and hostility. Doubts were raised as to the independence of the army and tensions were reported in the ranks.

Rumours had it that the government has recently recruited “youth leaders” – many who were ex-combatants or ex-militia into the Operational Support Division (OSD) of the police force. Fears were raised that the opposition party might similarly recruit from among the thousands of resettled former fighters. This would pose a grave threat to the country’s security.

Death penalty

Sierra Leone retains the death penalty. No one has been executed in years, however… the death sentence was passed on a member of the military convicted in August 2009. The President has not yet signed the death sentence. Ten men and three women remain on death row.

In Sierra Leone, when one asks, "how're things going?", a very common answer is, "we're trying". And this usually means... "things are really difficult but we're still here".

So, after reading the Amnesty Report 2011, all I can say is "we're still trying".

S/