February 17, 2021
By: John Abass Koroma (Port Loko)
In a colorful occasion on Friday, February 12 at the Northwest Regional Headquarter, Port Loko, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Anthony Brewah officially opens the newly established Regional office of the Human Right Commission of Sierra Leone (HRSL). The office is situated along the Kambia Highway just outside the city central.
In his statement, the Anthony Brewah said the decision to extend the Human Right Commission to the Northwest region is in line with President Bio’s vision to eradicate all forms of inhuman treatment and to protect the rights of every Sierra Leonean across the country. He said the Human Right Commission is under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice and that it is also a strong pillar in the administration of the justice system, which is why he said, he fast-tracked the processes involved to have Regional offices up and running in all parts of the Sierra Leone.
The Minister also informed this medium that it has also assigned a Resident Judge in the Northwest who has also commence his first sitting on cases committed to the high court especially those that have to do with sexual penetration and inhuman crimes. He noted that, the effort of government has to be complimented by stakeholders in the communities by giving their support to the Human Right workers as well as the justice system in the region. He ended by reassuring government continued support to all sectors and reforms that gears towards securing and protecting as well as promoting the rights of individuals.
The Resident Minister for the Northwest Region, Haja Isata Abdulai Kamara applauds government decision to have a both Resident Judge and a Human Right Office in the region noting that crimes will be abridged if not eradicated. She however asked the Human Right Commission to equip the office so as to have its operations go unhindered.
Patricia Ndenema is the chairperson of the Human Right Commission of Sierra Leone. In her statement she highlighted reasons for the establishment of the Human Right Commission referencing the Lome Peace Agreement during the civil war in Sierra Leone as well as the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC). She emphasized the importance of having a functional Commission that will constantly monitor, review and report on issues relating to violations of the rights of persons. She noted that, the commission, if fully operationalized in the region/ country, will not only create awareness of Human Rights but will as well build public trust and confidence. She closed by assuring people that the office is owned and should be managed by the people in the region.
The chairperson of the district human rights committee, the Mayor of the Port Loko City Council among other stakeholders commend government for the establishment of the Human Rights Office as well as the assigning of a Resident Judge as that they say will improve on the Justice system and the reduction of the floated crowd in the Port Loko Correctional Center.
