Overview

The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone is an independent Commission which was established in 2004 by an Act of Parliament. Our mandate is to protect and promote human rights in Sierra Leone.


What we do?


The Commission’s responsibilities are many. They include:- Receiving, investigating and making decisions on complaints made to it alleging that human rights have been violated. Providing public education and public awareness about human rights Holding public inquiries into human rights issues. Publishing annual state of human rights in Sierra Leone. Publishing information materials on human rights for public officials.


What are the powers of the Commission? To enable it effectively investigate complaints brought before it the Commission has been given powers of the High Court to: Compel witnesses to answer questions put to them by the Commission. To order the production of documents or other things necessary for its investigations Enter and search premises Refer a person to the High Court for contempt if the person refuses or fails without good reason to comply with a decision, direction or order of the Commission.



Can the Commission grant me a remedy? The Commission has powers to:-



  • Recommend that compensation be paid to a victim of human rights violation or to their families or legal representatives.

  • Award costs arising out of pursuing a complaint lodged at the Commission

  • Recommend for a change of policy, practice or legislation that has caused the violation.

  • Recommend the introduction of a law or the taking of action to prevent further violations.

  • Recommend for reparation or restoration of anything to the victim.

  • Recommend for reconciliation and apology to the victim.

  • Make orders, directions for the enforcement of a decision it has reached on a complaint.

What are Human Rights?


Human Rights are those rights we are born with as human beings. They are about the dignity and value of the human being. Human Rights are about respecting and protecting the dignity of all human beings. They are those basic entitlements and freedoms that make our lives satisfying and meaningful.


Human rights are the same for all people everywhere in the world. It is the same for every person: - male and female; young and old; rich and poor; healthy and sick; disabled or not; prisoner or free. It is the same for the President and the ordinary man living deep in small towns and villages. For example: - we all need to eat adequate food; we all need to move freely within Sierra Leone unless we are detained lawfully; we all want to choose our religion; we all want to be free from torture or inhuman and degrading treatment or molestation; we all want to believe and think what we want, we all want proper shelter for ourselves and family etc.

 

When human rights are respected we all live free from fear, harassment or discrimination. This is because human rights consist of the basic requirements (minimum standards) that we need in order to live in peace and dignity. Thus human rights prohibits (makes it illegal) governments and individuals from doing things or engaging in conduct that would violate our dignity .For example the police or any other authority should not torture, or arrest and detain people without valid legal reasons.

Human Rights also require that government takes steps to protect and promote our rights. For example the government has a duty to put in place measures that allow us to live in peace and to live an adequate (good) standard of living i.e. have adequate food, shelter, clean water, and clothing.

 

Sierra Leone has recognized human rights and written them in the Constitution and also by signing international agreements that protect human rights. Human rights are therefore legally guaranteed in Sierra Leone and can be enforced as individual entitlements. You can do this by going to the Supreme Court or by bringing your complaint to the Commission if your human rights are violated.
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