By: Saidu Jalloh
The Judiciary of Sierra Leone, the National AIDS Secretariat and other partners have ended a 3-day sensitisation and awareness raising campaign on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, stigma, Human Rights and other related issues.
Among the series of engagements lined up from the 19th to 21st October, 2023 were Moonlight tour to hotspot areas from 9:00pm to 12:00am; visitations of Rofutha Development Association (RODA) Drop-In-Centres for female sex workers, NETHIPS centre and Happy Kids and Adolescent home.
The Judiciary team of seven Judges of the Superior Court of Judicature and four Magistrates is led by Supreme Court Judge, Honourable Justice Ekundayo Roberts, who doubles as the Director of JLTI.
Explaining the purpose of the field visit, the Director General of the National AIDS Secretariat, Abdul Rahman Sessay, said it was to give a clear picture of the challenges key populations and other vulnerable population sex are confronted with in their respective communities and the stigma associated with living with HIV-AIDS.
He said the collaboration was necessitated by the commitment made by the Honourable Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards, while serving as a Guest Speaker on 1st December, 2022 at the commemoration of the World AIDS Day to protect the human rights of persons living with HIV-AIDS.
According to the Director General of NAS, engaging Judicial Officers will help to either establish a Special Court or fast-track the enforcement of the law through the prosecution of those stigmatizing persons living with HIV-AIDS.
He further expressed the hope that directly witnessing the circumstances of sex workers and drug users will enhance the perspective of judicial officers as they hear cases touching these issues.
In his power point presentation, the UNAIDS Country Director, Isaac Ahemesah, revealed that
HIV/AIDS response in Sierra Leone is challenged with human rights violations such as stigma and discrimination.
With a determined voice, he said, “our mission is to join the world to end HIV-AIDS by 2030 and Sierra Leone will not be left behind.”
In a passionate appeal, the Regional Coordinator-NETHIPS, Madam Alima Kamara, calls on the Judiciary and the law enforcement body to take firmer action against nurses who are in the habit of divulging their identity and at the same time stigmatising persons living with HIV.
