By: Abu H. Kargbo
The Fifty-Fifty Group has called for stronger protection of human rights defenders in Sierra Leone, including the enactment of legislation to safeguard them and their families.
The call was made on Monday, September 21, 2026, during a stakeholders’ engagement hosted by the Fifty-Fifty Group at the Women’s Forum for Human Rights and Democracy Office on Frontier Road in Makeni City.
The engagement brought together representatives from the security sector, human rights institutions and independent peace commissions, among other stakeholders, to discuss the safety and security of human rights defenders.
Lead Facilitator Emilia Kamara-Jengo said the engagement forms part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the need to prioritize the safety and security of human rights defenders.
“Protecting human rights defenders is essential to strengthening our overall human rights,” she said.
Kamara-Jengo explained that the initiative is being championed by the Fifty-Fifty Group in Sierra Leone in collaboration with the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, with funding from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Canada.
She said the initiative focuses on strengthening both the professional and personal security of human rights defenders.
“We also educated them about the importance of having emergency contacts and conducting security checks before travelling to ensure their personal safety,” she added.
Kamara-Jengo further disclosed that the group plans to advocate for legislation that would provide legal protection for human rights defenders in Sierra Leone, drawing on findings from a nationwide study.
“Such legislation will also provide safety for our family members, who are sometimes targeted when we express our views on critical national issues,” she explained.
She clarified that the proposed legislation is not intended to give human rights defenders additional powers, stressing that they remain citizens who are expected to respect the laws of Sierra Leone.
“The legislation will also outline guidelines to ensure responsible human rights advocacy,” she noted.
Provincial Security Coordinator for the North-East Region, Josephine Miatta Saffa, welcomed the proposal, urging the Fifty-Fifty Group and its partners to consider international best practices when developing the legislation.
“Extensive research on existing legal frameworks will be valuable during the drafting stage, especially since there are limitations to every right,” she said.
Representatives of the Sierra Leone Police and Correctional Services also expressed support for legislation aimed at protecting human rights defenders.
They noted that personnel in their respective professions can also face vulnerabilities, adding that their concerns are often overlooked while complaints against them receive significant public attention.
The engagement forms part of broader efforts to promote a safer environment for human rights defenders and strengthen the culture of human rights in Sierra Leone.