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The Office of National Security (ONS) and the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation on gender justice, human rights protection, and national security governance.
The agreement, signed on 10 March 2026, seeks to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions in addressing issues such as sexual and gender-based violence, while promoting gender sensitivity and respect for human rights within national security operations.
According to the MoU, both institutions will work together through joint advocacy, capacity-building initiatives, information sharing, and training programs aimed at mainstreaming gender and human rights perspectives in the country’s security sector.
Deputy National Security Coordinator, Dr. Ahmed A. Sannoh, said the partnership is important in addressing past challenges that contributed to the country’s civil conflict, noting that many of those issues were linked to the neglect and violation of human rights.
He emphasized that stronger collaboration between security institutions and human rights bodies is essential to ensuring sustainable peace and effective governance.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of HRCSL, Patricia Narsu Ndanema, pointed to existing cooperation between the two institutions, highlighting ONS’s support in facilitating the Commission’s visit to Yenga and their joint human rights awareness campaigns firing the electoral period.
The MoU provides a three-year framework for continued collaboration between HRCSL and ONS in promoting human rights and strengthening gender-responsive national security governance in Sierra Leone.
