March 12, 2021
By Aruna Kamara (Bo)
The newly Secretary General of the Civil Society Forum in Bo district, Southern Region, who doubles as the National Coordinator of the Children and Youth For Peace Agency(CYPA)- Sierra Leone, Momoh S. Kamara has embarked on the popularization of the civil society code of ethics in Bo District.
Speaking to this medium at CARL office that houses the Civil Society office along railway line in Bo, Mr. Kamara said that the popularization of the code of ethics for the CSOs is in fulfillment of his promise to members of the newly established civil society organization in Bo district.
He said that the new CSOs needs to be familiar with the code of ethics in order to understand what the CSO forum stands for.
“With this understanding, you can come to terms with public expectation of your role to society,” he stated.
According to him, Civil Society Organizations from the four regions of Sierra Leone had converged to the city of Kenema in August 2015 for a three-day National Conference on the theme: “Towards Building Social Movement in Sierra Leone.”
It was there a resolution was reached to promote through self-regulation, government, citizens and the international community’s respect and support for Civil Society in Sierra Leone.
They accepted the resolution on ethical behavior which states “members of civil society organization shall at all times remain non-partisan and shall not take part in political party activities, they should all times refrain from producing political jingles or take part in political party radio or television discussions or other activities with the objective of promoting the interest of any political party, CSO members shall at all times observe restraint in the use of political party colors especially during electoral campaigns, ensure full accountability to those on whose behalf they act or execute any action, uphold the values of inclusiveness, participation, networking and coalition building and promoting CSOs solidarity, CSOs uphold the highest levels of moral authority and strive towards being a role model at all times.”
According to the CSO scribe, defaulting member organization shall be suspended pending investigation by a panel to be established by the Convening Group of Organizations on the advice of the National Convener and that establishment of guilt shall lead to expulsion of the defaulting member organization.
He said that the expulsion shall be subject to review that will lead to revocation on justifiable grounds. Such mitigating conditions will include: Demonstration of remorse by apologizing, making an undertaking to desist from unethical action(s), completion of any prescribed term of suspension during which a period repentance is shown.