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The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) has taken a step toward addressing issues of welfare and challenges faced by deportees, with the drafting of its first National Deportation Policy in collaboration with the Network of Ex-Asylum Seeker (NEAS) Sierra Leone.
The national Deportation policy aims to ensure that issues of deportation are treated seriously, especially by MDAs working on deportation issues.
The engagement, supported by Medico International, brought together representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Office of National Security, Interpol, the National Youth Commission, and the Ministry of Social Welfare. Discussions focused on refining the document before its final validation.
HRCSL Commissioner Hassan Samba Yarjah, in charge of overseeing migration and human trafficking matters, emphasized the complexities surrounding deportation and its impact on human rights.
“The policy must reflect the collective responsibility to protect the rights of deportees, ensuring that their return to the country is managed in a manner that respects their human rights and addresses specific needs,” he said.
NEAS-SL National Coordinator Abdulai Daramy explained that the organization was founded in 2009 following his own experience as a deportee.
He noted that Sierra Leone has never had a formal framework to address deportees’ rights and welfare. “When validated, the National Deportation Policy will serve as a blueprint in addressing issues affecting deportees in the country,” he stated.
At the closing of the engagement, stakeholders were able reviewed key provisions in the draft policy and discuss strategies to ensure that deportees receive proper support upon arrival.
