Post a comment
Commissioner of the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), Ambassador Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina, has reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to safeguarding the fundamental human rights of refugees and internally displaced persons within its territory.
He presented this commitment at the High-Level session of the 74th Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, held from October 9 to 13, 2023.
Ambassador Ndomahina highlighted the policy reforms that Sierra Leone has initiated and implemented to protect the rights of refugees and displaced persons.
He emphasized that the country’s creation of the National Commission for Social Action in 2002, following the civil war, was instrumental in providing essential services to displaced Sierra Leoneans and refugees from neighboring countries, underscoring the nation’s dedication to global solidarity in supporting and protecting these vulnerable groups.
Furthermore, Ambassador Ndomahina noted the legislative and legal instruments that Sierra Leone has put in place to enable NaCSA to effectively deliver essential social services to displaced Sierra Leoneans, refugees, and stateless persons. Notably, he highlighted the enactment of the Refugee Protection Act of 2007, which recognizes and safeguards refugees in Sierra Leone, in line with international and regional normative frameworks, including the Geneva Convention of 1951.
Commissioner Ndomahina assured the Executive Committee of Sierra Leone’s ongoing commitment to normalizing the lives of refugees and vulnerable individuals. He discussed the “Tenki Salone” Project, a mechanism for compensating host communities by implementing socio-economic infrastructure projects to provide concrete solutions and opportunities for the remaining caseload of 385 refugees in their respective host communities.
Moreover, Commissioner Ndomahina highlighted Sierra Leone’s initiatives, including the development of a Statelessness policy, provision of birth certificates for persons of concern (POCs), and a joint assistance framework with UNHCR for registered asylum seekers. He mentioned that the government remains committed to reducing statelessness by 2024.
In his concluding remarks, Commissioner Ndomahina called upon the Executive Committee to support processes that strengthen international, regional, and national human rights regimes and mechanisms. He emphasized the government’s commitment to providing protection and assistance to refugees and asylum seekers and called for efforts to mitigate the root causes that trigger conflicts and contribute to the global refugee and IDP challenges.
Responding to Commissioner Ndomahina’s address, Mr. Filippo Grandi, the High Commissioner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, commended Sierra Leone for its efforts in improving the lives of refugees, internally displaced persons, and asylum seekers. He appreciated the nation’s commitment to the development of a roadmap for UNHCR’s engagement.
