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The United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor has released its 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in Sierra Leone.
The report highlight several human right lapses committed by countries and their governments across the world in 2021.
In Sierra Leone, Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings by the government; cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by government or on behalf of government; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; serious government corruption; existence of laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults, although the laws were not enforced; and existence of the worst forms of child labor.
According to the report, there were several credible reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. In April the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) shot and killed an unarmed youth in the capital city of Freetown during a student protest. Authorities arrested and dismissed the four police officers allegedly involved in the killing, and as of September they were standing trial.
The report also notes that Impunity remained a significant problem in the security forces, notably in the SLP. Prison and detention center conditions were harsh and sometimes life threatening due to food shortages, gross overcrowding, an inefficient justice system, lack of sufficient correctional facilities and personnel, physical abuse, lack of clean water, inadequate sanitary conditions, and a lack of proper medical care in prison facilities.
The US department also added that the constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention, but human rights groups such as Amnesty International and the HRCSL indicated that the SLP and chiefdom police occasionally arrested and detained persons arbitrarily, including members of opposition parties.
“There were reports of individuals held for questioning without being promptly informed of the reason for the arrest. The SLP and the chiefdom police held suspects in detention cells without explanation for up to three days for suspected misdemeanors and up to 10 days for suspected felonies. Chiefs sometimes subjected both adults and children to arbitrary detention and imprisoned them unlawfully in their homes or “chiefdom jails.” The Human Rights Commission reported cases of illegal detentions at several police stations and the Freetown Male Correctional Center.”, the report added.
May the God Almighty take control over our country
All these are theory stories.
What have you people done?
Nothing, it is best you keep quiet.
Shame on the poster
Who wrote this report for the HR? It has to be Sierra Leoneans. All the issues raised here, have been like that since the late 60’s as I could remember, so why only complaining now? Even in the USA that sent this report, as it is claimed here, have citizens in prison to this day that were jailed for protesting against election they claimed was rigged against their candidate. Much more is happening in that country politically, that the whole world is seeing right now, than in Sierra Leone.
God please help us 🙏🙏
Honestly APC you guys are super liars
Why 2021 human rights abuse by the ruling SLPP government been reported at this time 2023, You see, your frustration of hunger of power will send you all to doom. Do you think by writing all these slushes about Sierra Leone will show case a good image of Sierra Leone that will attract investors that will bring jobs to over the night, you are always crying like the morning wolf on trap; WOK NOR DAE,KONTRI TRANGA,CHOP DEAR. Your people trek from their villager to the city sleeping on the street and public structures and want to gain job in the morning after littering the street with feeses and urine. Tell your people to go back home and farm or learn trade that will sustain them in their old ages. Governments all over the world is unable to give jobs to all it’s citizens but the private sector s which you are destroying everyday. Mind you no investor will come to sierra Leone by hearing such messages of yours. You see we, we were self sustainable before and after Ebola and COVID-19 pandemic. Southeastern are not dependant on government too much to give them jobs, we educate our selves,our children,we learn trades and we do farming that’s why most villages in the south East show’s no signs of war. The towns and village’s are more developed than ever. HELP YOUR SELF BEFORE ASKING FOR HELP WHEN YOU ARE NOT STARTED YET.
Even in the U.S they are doing the worst, let’s look back at Saddam Husen, Robert Kelly imprisonment.
All of you going against the facts cannot come up with any defense instead going against the US for stating the obvious facts. What a shame.