Displaying 45201 - 45225 of 58126 recommendations found
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:SloveniaSloveniaRegional groupEEGPolitical groupEUIssue:
- Female genital mutilation / cutting
Type:RecommendationSession:38th Session, May 2021Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Enact a specific law to prohibit female genital mutilation.
ExplanationNoted. Sierra Leone has in place several measures to address the human rights concerns of female genital mutilation (FGM). Despite those measures, the right to associate and freedom of assembly conflict with some of the recommendations that call for a complete ban on FGM.
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:SpainSpainRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUOEIIssue:
- Intersex persons' rights
- Discrimination based on sexual orientation
- Discrimination based on gender identity
- Rights of same-sex desiring persons
- Transgender persons' rights
- Violence on the basis of sexual orientation
- Violence on the basis of gender identity
Type:RecommendationSession:38th Session, May 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Effectively investigate complaints regarding the restriction of the enjoyment of the freedoms of expression and assembly of LGBTI people, as well as attacks, arbitrary detentions and other forms of intimidation and violence against them.
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:United StatesUnited StatesRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupOASIssue:
- Violence against women / gender-based violence
- Sexual violence
Type:RecommendationSession:38th Session, May 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Allocate increased budget resources to address sexual and gender-based violence, improving access to services and justice for survivors.
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:IrelandIrelandRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUIssue:
- Gender equality
- Empowerment of women
Type:RecommendationSession:38th Session, May 2021Status:AcceptedContents:Implement the recently launched Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy in its entirety.
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:NetherlandsNetherlandsRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUIssue:
- HIV and AIDS
Type:RecommendationSession:11th session, May 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Continue to ensure that programmes, services and support for HIV-prevention will reach the general population.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 26) ... The Ministry of Health supported the Free Malaria Treatment Program for all age groups, as well as the Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS programmes ...
Para 27) Sierra Leone has increased the number of testing sites for HIV/AIDS Anti-rectroviral Therapy (ART) from 556 in 2011 to 689 in 2012, with the number of pregnant women tested for HIV/AIDS rising from 138,000 in 2011 to 224,000 in 2012. The coverage for prophylaxis is 74%. The 2011 HIV/AIDS Commission Act makes it an offence to deny a person access to employment or to an educational institution on the basis of their HIV status. Alongside this, HIV positive personnel are serving in the security sector and an anti-stigmatization law is also being enforced. Several workplaces have adopted and mainstreamed National HIV/AIDS policy ...
Para 81) ... In addition to FHC, free malaria treatment for all age groups is provided in all government healthcare facilities, including the treatment for tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS ...
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 25) ICAAD noted that the HIV/AIDS Commission Act was passed in 2011, making it illegal to deny employment or education based on HIV status.
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:AustriaAustriaRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupEUIssue:
- Harmful practices based on cultural / traditional values
- Violence against women / gender-based violence
- Female genital mutilation / cutting
Type:RecommendationSession:11th session, May 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Take all appropriate measures to address violence against women effectively and more specifically to eliminate FGM, including by making its performance a criminal offence.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 22) The GOSL has taken further steps with regards to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and has signed an agreement with the traditional heads banning the initiation of girls below the age of 18. There has also been policy measures put forward by the GOSL concerning the rights of the child including: the National Child Welfare Policy and Alternative Care Policy, and a policy that allows for a Family Support Unit within the Sierra Leone Police.
Para 43) On the issue of FGM, it is culturally entrenched in the Sierra Leone but efforts are being made to address the prevalence of this practice. One of the flagship projects in the Agenda for Prosperity, especially Pillar 8 on: 'Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment', is the enactment of law against underage initiation rites of passage for girls. It is hoped that this can be an entry point for the elimination of the practice in the long run. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed at the local level with the Soweis to eliminate under-18 initiations. Massive sensitization campaigns continue with constructive advocacy and engagement with the Council of Soweis and other FGM stakeholders. The expected outcome aims to create an alternative means of livelihood for Soweis especially through access to micro-credit and business skills
Para 50) The GOSL recognizes that some traditional practices have proven harmful and violates the basic rights of individuals. It is therefore advocating, also as a nation, on the importance of the age limit set in the Child Right's Act (18). This enactment was promulgated as a deterrent to FGM and Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM). However, the Law Reform Commission is still working on the amendment of the Customary Marriage Act which currently allows marriage below 18, but with the consent of the parent/guardian. It is hoped that by the third cycle, this law will be in conformity with the age of maturity or consent, that is: 18 years
"National Report:
Para 11) A lot of advancements were made in reforming laws and safeguarding the rights of the people. Several legislations were also promulgated during that period such as the Persons with Disability Act 2011, Right to Access to Information Act 2013 and the Sexual Offences Act 2012 … and the Customary Marriage Act 2007, which is in parts contradictory with regards to the age limit and the principle of consent
Para 21) ... In 2012 a National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence and the National Referral Protocol on Gender-Based Violence was developed and launched. The President went a step further on the 8th March 2013, by declaring ""Violence against women is violence against the State"".
Para 23) ... The MOD/RSLAF has also set up a gender-based violence (GBV) desk in the office of the directorate of Gender and Equal Opportunity and a welfare office at HQ Joint Force Command to address GBV related issues. Sierra Leone thanks its development partners, both international and national, for ensuring the best practices in the MOD/RSLAF ...
Para 35) ... The Family Support Unit (FSU) deals with sexual and gender-based violence committed against women and children. The Moyamba Division has been the pilot division for the FSU, sponsored by the former Justice Sector Development Project (JSDP). All divisions now have a FSU. An MOU was signed with chiefs and the Family Support Unit (FSU) to report and assist carers of child abuse victims ...
Para 48) ... Additionally, the MSWGCA developed and launched the National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the National Referral Protocol on Gender-Based Violence in 2012. The implementation of the National Referral Protocol on GBV continues all across the country.
Para 53) ... The MSWGCA has during the period under review, collaborated with the International Rescue Committee, UNDP, and AMNET-SL in providing trainings and awareness-raising drives on sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) for the law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders including the Local Councils and other service providers for SGBV cases. Gender Durbars have also been conducted with brigades, battalions, units and other departments across the RSLAF to discuss gender issues, including women’s empowerment, and to build their capacity to address GBV issues. GBV and Teenage Pregnancy Workshops have been conducted in military barracks and communities. The Directorate of Gender and Equal Opportunity is also networking with gender stakeholders, institutions and civil society groups to share experience, best practices and lessons learnt, in order to build capacity to deal with GBV issues within the Force.
Para 81) In addition to FHC, free malaria treatment for all age groups is provided in all government healthcare facilities, including ... for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).
UN Compilation:
Para 11) ... The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Committee against Torture welcomed the adoption in 2012 of the National Referral Protocol on Gender-based Violence and the National Plan of Action on Gender-based Violence.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 21) AI noted that Sierra Leone has taken initiatives to improve its human rights framework, such as enactment of the Sexual Offences Act 2012 ...
Para 43) JS2 noted that in the first cycle report, several recommendations were presented to tackle gender based violence and sexual abuse of women and children in Sierra Leone. Though Sierra Leone has made some progress in this area by passing the Sexual Offences Act in 2012 and the three gender Acts in 2007, lack of effective implementation and enforcement of these laws continue to make particularly girls and women vulnerable to such crimes ... " -
State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:MexicoMexicoRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIACSIssue:
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:RecommendationSession:11th session, May 2011Status:AcceptedContents:Remove obstacles preventing women having effective access to justice and adopt appropriate measures to promote basic legal assistance and knowledge of women's rights, including the right to obtain redress in the courts. -
State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:GhanaGhanaRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFCommonwealthIssue:
- International human rights instruments
- Gender equality
Type:RecommendationSession:24th session, January 2016Status:AcceptedContents:Ratify OP-CEDAW.ExplanationWe intend to continue to cooperate with all the Human Rights Council mechanisms and will take steps during the implementation period to improve the signing and ratification of major international instruments.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 33) GoSL plans to ratify several Optional Protocols in the coming years. An objective of the on-going constitutional review process is, inter alia, to also incorporate some of the principles of international human rights espoused by the said Optional Protocols into the new constitution and thus make them as part of the supreme laws of the land. The Government is seeking donor support to enable it to prepare and submit the outstanding reports. A timetable for the submission of the reports supra is to be drawn in 2021 which will guide the GoSL.
Para 46) Sierra Leone signed the OP-CEDAW in September 2008 but has not ratified it. The Ebola Virus Disease in 2014 and the concurrent economic meltdown hampered the ratification process. With the election of a new government, came the Corona Virus pandemic. However, the Government has responded positively to the implementation of its contents.
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:EgyptEgyptRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICALOIFIssue:
- Gender equality
- Empowerment of women
Type:RecommendationSession:24th session, January 2016Status:AcceptedContents:Ensure gender equality by including it in the Constitution and enact relevant laws, namely, on the empowerment of women and gender equality, and to combat stereotypes that encourage discrimination against women.ExplanationSierra Leone is actively pursuing the review of its constitution to bring it in line with international human rights standards and to meet the general democratic aspirations of its people.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 15) In respect of saving livelihoods [during the COVID-10 pandemic], vulnerable groups were given safety nets in the form of expanded cash transfer programmes of Le 35,000 to Le 100,000 for households with a quota of persons with disabilities. Workers, both in the informal and formal sectors, were also beneficiaries. Petty traders, market women, low paid workers in the informal sector, totalling about 29,000, received cash injections of Le 1,300,000 per person.
Para 30) According to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) assessment report of 2020, Sierra Leone has registered remarkable strides in the improvement of policies with human rights implications. The policies calculated in percentage terms are as follows: … Gender in the economy, 61% …
Para 48) The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MGCA) has, since the last review, implemented a National Gender Strategic Plan. A National Steering Committee was set up for the implementation of the National Action Plan on Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820. Also, Sierra Leone is on the board of Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action Compact and committed to undertake the following relevant policy actions including those in the national Gender Strategic plan has been finalised.
Para 49) The SLP has adopted an accelerated promotion policy for women and offers women officers' priority for training opportunities to participate in international peacekeeping missions. In February 2019, RSLAF conducted a 300 all-female recruitment and training programme. This is a cadet officer programme that offers women, especially those with Professional Qualifications (such as Medicine, Law, Accounting, Vocational Skills, etc.) to join the officer ranks of RSLAF.
Para 50) The Local Government Service Commission, the body responsible for the Local Councils has made strides incorporating women as pillars in the Commission. The Commission has five (5) Commissioners, three (3) of whom are women. The Local Government Act, 2004 stipulated that 70% of Ward Committee Members should be women.
Para 51) On 3 December 2020, the GoSL launched the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Policy. The policy aims at changing social norms and perspectives and at the same time guaranteeing equality, inclusion, and access to rights, resources and opportunity for all.
Para 65) Further to recommendations of the European Union Election Mission in 2012, NEC has set up a committee encompassing various institutions of Government. As recommended by the EU Mission, NEC has reverted to the district tally centre process; and the same is embedded in the NEC Strategic Plan 2020-2024, which was launched on 18 November 2020. Regarding the conduct of effective and sustained sensitisation and awareness-raising campaign on gender mainstreaming, NEC has established departments for sensitisation, gender and disability departments.
Para 66) GoSL launched the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment policy on 3 December 2020. Even before the launch of the policy, the Government had already taken deliberate actions to ensure gender parity. The MFAIC, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, the MGCA, the Ministry of Fisheries, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the Auditor General, are some of the highest offices of the land held by women.
Para 67) Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament increased from 12.4% in 2012 to 12.9% in 2018. The proportion of female mayors and local councillors and chairpersons increased from 18% to 28.6% over the same period.
Para 68) According to Cluster 5 of Sierra Leone’s MTNDP, 2019-2023, a key target is to ensure that more women are in a leadership position than there were in 2018 when the plan was launched.
Para 69) The Government continues to appoint women to senior governance positions. In line with the Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference at the UN in New York concerning 20% increase in female intake in RSLAF, 328 special female officer cadets were recruited.
Para 70) The Sierra Leone Police continues to implement its Gender Mainstreaming policy through accelerated promotion scheme for female personnel. This serves as incentives for women to join the SLP. In the Sierra Leone Correctional Services (SLCS), equal opportunities exist for both male and female applicants to sit entrance examination, go through the same interview process and successful candidates employed.
Para 76) The GoSL has, through NaCSA developed programmes aimed to reduce poverty and improving the economy. This programme has several components of poverty reductions, which includes the following: The Pro-Poor Growth for Peace Consolidation (GPC) Programme co-financed by the Governments of Sierra Leone and the Federal Republic of Germany aims at primarily improving the livelihoods of beneficiary communities and contributes to development and consolidation of peace, with a specific focus on employment creation and income generation for vulnerable groups (youths and women) in selected rural communities. … • Also, NaCSA has programmes aimed at addressing the plight of women, children and other vulnerable groups. Through this, NaCSA solicited funds to ensure that women and children are protected. This had been achieved through the various social protection programmes implemented nationwide with NaCSA providing income support to 2,250 women.
Para 77) Also, the War Reparation Programme, which has now ended, targeted vulnerable widows and were provided with a rehabilitation grant of Le 3.5 Billion.
Para 122) In February 2019, the Government launched the MTNDP as the fourth-generation Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). The key objective of the Plan is to achieve and improve education, hence a Free Quality School Education, as a basis for the development of human capital to facilitate the transformation of women’s empowerment, …
UN Compilation:
Para 4) The Peacebuilding Support Office of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs stated that the Peacebuilding Fund had been active in Sierra Leone since 2007, with $62 million allocated to date towards initiatives in support of …, young people and women’s participation and empowerment …
Para 42) … Women and members of other vulnerable groups, such as elderly persons and persons with disabilities, faced challenges in accessing financial, technology and market services [during the COVID-19 pandemic].
Para 52) The United Nations country team noted that Sierra Leone had ratified major international and regional treaties and conventions that upheld equality and prohibited discrimination based on gender. However, Sierra Leone was ranked 153rd out of 162 countries in the 2018 gender inequality index. Gender inequalities were exacerbated by discriminatory cultural norms that impinged on women’s access to power, resources and privileges. The prohibition of discrimination based on gender in the areas of marriage, divorce, adoption and devolution of property on death was established in the Constitution.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 63) The-Carter Center (CC) regretted that women candidates have limited opportunities to participate in political processes, and that only two of 17 presidential candidates were female, and represented only 12.5% of all parliamentarian candidates. According toCC, the low number of female nominees reflected a lack of political will to improve gender equality in public institutions. It further noted that a Gender Equality Bill had been in the drafting process since 2013, and has not yet been made into law.
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:Democratic Republic of CongoDemocratic Republic of CongoRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOIFIssue:
- Gender equality
- Women's participation
Type:RecommendationSession:24th session, January 2016Status:AcceptedContents:Adopt the bill on gender equality with a view to ensuring gender parity, particularly in the participation to governance and to the nomination of positions within the public sector.ExplanationSierra Leone will ensure that discrimination of any class of its citizens is prohibited. Knowing that a review of the constitution is ongoing and changes most likely in those areas noted, we remain confident in the process and we know a more robust protection for all disadvantaged groups will emerge.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 15) In respect of saving livelihoods [during the COVID-10 pandemic], vulnerable groups were given safety nets in the form of expanded cash transfer programmes of Le 35,000 to Le 100,000 for households with a quota of persons with disabilities. Workers, both in the informal and formal sectors, were also beneficiaries. Petty traders, market women, low paid workers in the informal sector, totalling about 29,000, received cash injections of Le 1,300,000 per person.
Para 30) According to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) assessment report of 2020, Sierra Leone has registered remarkable strides in the improvement of policies with human rights implications. The policies calculated in percentage terms are as follows: … Gender in the economy, 61% …
Para 48) The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MGCA) has, since the last review, implemented a National Gender Strategic Plan. A National Steering Committee was set up for the implementation of the National Action Plan on Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820. Also, Sierra Leone is on the board of Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action Compact and committed to undertake the following relevant policy actions including those in the national Gender Strategic plan has been finalised.
Para 49) The SLP has adopted an accelerated promotion policy for women and offers women officers' priority for training opportunities to participate in international peacekeeping missions. In February 2019, RSLAF conducted a 300 all-female recruitment and training programme. This is a cadet officer programme that offers women, especially those with Professional Qualifications (such as Medicine, Law, Accounting, Vocational Skills, etc.) to join the officer ranks of RSLAF.
Para 50) The Local Government Service Commission, the body responsible for the Local Councils has made strides incorporating women as pillars in the Commission. The Commission has five (5) Commissioners, three (3) of whom are women. The Local Government Act, 2004 stipulated that 70% of Ward Committee Members should be women.
Para 51) On 3 December 2020, the GoSL launched the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Policy. The policy aims at changing social norms and perspectives and at the same time guaranteeing equality, inclusion, and access to rights, resources and opportunity for all.
Para 65) Further to recommendations of the European Union Election Mission in 2012, NEC has set up a committee encompassing various institutions of Government. As recommended by the EU Mission, NEC has reverted to the district tally centre process; and the same is embedded in the NEC Strategic Plan 2020-2024, which was launched on 18 November 2020. Regarding the conduct of effective and sustained sensitisation and awareness-raising campaign on gender mainstreaming, NEC has established departments for sensitisation, gender and disability departments.
Para 66) GoSL launched the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment policy on 3 December 2020. Even before the launch of the policy, the Government had already taken deliberate actions to ensure gender parity. The MFAIC, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, the MGCA, the Ministry of Fisheries, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the Auditor General, are some of the highest offices of the land held by women.
Para 67) Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament increased from 12.4% in 2012 to 12.9% in 2018. The proportion of female mayors and local councillors and chairpersons increased from 18% to 28.6% over the same period.
Para 68) According to Cluster 5 of Sierra Leone’s MTNDP, 2019-2023, a key target is to ensure that more women are in a leadership position than there were in 2018 when the plan was launched.
Para 69) The Government continues to appoint women to senior governance positions. In line with the Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference at the UN in New York concerning 20% increase in female intake in RSLAF, 328 special female officer cadets were recruited.
Para 70) The Sierra Leone Police continues to implement its Gender Mainstreaming policy through accelerated promotion scheme for female personnel. This serves as incentives for women to join the SLP. In the Sierra Leone Correctional Services (SLCS), equal opportunities exist for both male and female applicants to sit entrance examination, go through the same interview process and successful candidates employed.
Para 76) The GoSL has, through NaCSA developed programmes aimed to reduce poverty and improving the economy. This programme has several components of poverty reductions, which includes the following: The Pro-Poor Growth for Peace Consolidation (GPC) Programme co-financed by the Governments of Sierra Leone and the Federal Republic of Germany aims at primarily improving the livelihoods of beneficiary communities and contributes to development and consolidation of peace, with a specific focus on employment creation and income generation for vulnerable groups (youths and women) in selected rural communities. … • Also, NaCSA has programmes aimed at addressing the plight of women, children and other vulnerable groups. Through this, NaCSA solicited funds to ensure that women and children are protected. This had been achieved through the various social protection programmes implemented nationwide with NaCSA providing income support to 2,250 women.
Para 77) Also, the War Reparation Programme, which has now ended, targeted vulnerable widows and were provided with a rehabilitation grant of Le 3.5 Billion.
Para 122) In February 2019, the Government launched the MTNDP as the fourth-generation Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). The key objective of the Plan is to achieve and improve education, hence a Free Quality School Education, as a basis for the development of human capital to facilitate the transformation of women’s empowerment, …
UN Compilation:
Para 4) The Peacebuilding Support Office of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs stated that the Peacebuilding Fund had been active in Sierra Leone since 2007, with $62 million allocated to date towards initiatives in support of …, young people and women’s participation and empowerment …
Para 42) … Women and members of other vulnerable groups, such as elderly persons and persons with disabilities, faced challenges in accessing financial, technology and market services [during the COVID-19 pandemic].
Para 52) The United Nations country team noted that Sierra Leone had ratified major international and regional treaties and conventions that upheld equality and prohibited discrimination based on gender. However, Sierra Leone was ranked 153rd out of 162 countries in the 2018 gender inequality index. Gender inequalities were exacerbated by discriminatory cultural norms that impinged on women’s access to power, resources and privileges. The prohibition of discrimination based on gender in the areas of marriage, divorce, adoption and devolution of property on death was established in the Constitution.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 63) The-Carter Center (CC) regretted that women candidates have limited opportunities to participate in political processes, and that only two of 17 presidential candidates were female, and represented only 12.5% of all parliamentarian candidates. According toCC, the low number of female nominees reflected a lack of political will to improve gender equality in public institutions. It further noted that a Gender Equality Bill had been in the drafting process since 2013, and has not yet been made into law.
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:MaldivesMaldivesRegional groupAsia-Pacific GroupPolitical groupOICCommonwealthIssue:
- Harmful practices based on cultural / traditional values
- Female genital mutilation / cutting
Type:RecommendationSession:24th session, January 2016Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Step up the efforts to combat female genital mutilation.ExplanationNoted. We continue to reaffirm our commitment to improve human rights. However, we will continue to consult local stakeholders on a clear and definitive policy regarding harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 39) Some of the recommendations by CRC, which are accepted include, … the criminalisation of FGM.
Para 59) There is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government and the ‘Sowei’ Council is in place as a strategy to ending FGM, which calls for girls under the age of 18 years not to be circumcised. The Government is using the free quality school education as an entry point to sensitise girls of the harms of FGM and eventually eliminating its prevalence. The Government is also working closely with campaigners on ending FGM to engage the practitioners and to work towards finalisation of the National Strategy for Reduction of FGM. Despite the MoU that children should consent to initiation, the practice is on-going regardless.
Para 60) In this regard, much has been done through collaborative engagement between state and non-state actors with the MGCA taking the lead in reaching to the general public on the continuous promotion of awareness against FGM in the Country. Girls and women aged between 15–49 years who have undergone FGM dropped from 89% in 2011 to 86.1 % in 2019.
Para 118) Some violations have always been inherent within the structures of the society for decades, predicated upon dubious traditional practices and beliefs. FGM, as a harmful practice on the girl child, is difficult to eliminate or legislate out of existence because of the traditional and cultural belief systems.
UN Compilation:
Para 20) The United Nations country team noted that traditional harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation, remained prevalent in Sierra Leone. While noting successful efforts to include practitioners of female genital mutilation in the fight against such mutilation, the Committee on the Rights of the Child was seriously concerned that female genital mutilation was still not prohibited in law for children.
Para 21) The United Nations country team regretted that, despite measures taken, secret societies continued to practise female genital mutilation, including on underage girls. It noted that in 2019, following reports of misuse of secret societies, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development had banned the activities of secret societies.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 32) European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) was alarmed that, despite efforts deployed by the Government, Sierra Leone still had one of the highest rates of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the word, with an estimated 90% of women and girls having suffered mutilation. Plan International (PI) regretted the lack of legislation criminalizing FGM. According to JS2, CUMG-SL and ECLJ, Sierra Leone continued to face challenges in combating FGM because it is rooted in cultural and traditional practices. ECLJ emphasized the negative role of the Bondo society who encouraged and carried out FGM ceremonies, and noted that, while initiations are illegal, there was still not a law against the pervasive practice of FGM itself in force.
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:AngolaAngolaRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUIssue:
- Harmful practices based on cultural / traditional values
- Gender equality
- Female genital mutilation / cutting
Type:RecommendationSession:24th session, January 2016Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation and continue its efforts regarding gender equality.ExplanationNoted. We continue to reaffirm our commitment to improve human rights. However, we will continue to consult local stakeholders on a clear and definitive policy regarding harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 15) In respect of saving livelihoods [during the COVID-10 pandemic], vulnerable groups were given safety nets in the form of expanded cash transfer programmes of Le 35,000 to Le 100,000 for households with a quota of persons with disabilities. Workers, both in the informal and formal sectors, were also beneficiaries. Petty traders, market women, low paid workers in the informal sector, totalling about 29,000, received cash injections of Le 1,300,000 per person.
Para 30) According to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) assessment report of 2020, Sierra Leone has registered remarkable strides in the improvement of policies with human rights implications. The policies calculated in percentage terms are as follows: … Gender in the economy, 61% …
Para 39) Some of the recommendations by CRC, which are accepted include, … the criminalisation of FGM.
Para 48) The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MGCA) has, since the last review, implemented a National Gender Strategic Plan. A National Steering Committee was set up for the implementation of the National Action Plan on Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820. Also, Sierra Leone is on the board of Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action Compact and committed to undertake the following relevant policy actions including those in the national Gender Strategic plan has been finalised.
Para 49) The SLP has adopted an accelerated promotion policy for women and offers women officers' priority for training opportunities to participate in international peacekeeping missions. In February 2019, RSLAF conducted a 300 all-female recruitment and training programme. This is a cadet officer programme that offers women, especially those with Professional Qualifications (such as Medicine, Law, Accounting, Vocational Skills, etc.) to join the officer ranks of RSLAF.
Para 50) The Local Government Service Commission, the body responsible for the Local Councils has made strides incorporating women as pillars in the Commission. The Commission has five (5) Commissioners, three (3) of whom are women. The Local Government Act, 2004 stipulated that 70% of Ward Committee Members should be women.
Para 51) On 3 December 2020, the GoSL launched the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Policy. The policy aims at changing social norms and perspectives and at the same time guaranteeing equality, inclusion, and access to rights, resources and opportunity for all.
Para 59) There is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government and the ‘Sowei’ Council is in place as a strategy to ending FGM, which calls for girls under the age of 18 years not to be circumcised. The Government is using the free quality school education as an entry point to sensitise girls of the harms of FGM and eventually eliminating its prevalence. The Government is also working closely with campaigners on ending FGM to engage the practitioners and to work towards finalisation of the National Strategy for Reduction of FGM. Despite the MoU that children should consent to initiation, the practice is on-going regardless.
Para 60) In this regard, much has been done through collaborative engagement between state and non-state actors with the MGCA taking the lead in reaching to the general public on the continuous promotion of awareness against FGM in the Country. Girls and women aged between 15–49 years who have undergone FGM dropped from 89% in 2011 to 86.1 % in 2019.
Para 65) Further to recommendations of the European Union Election Mission in 2012, NEC has set up a committee encompassing various institutions of Government. As recommended by the EU Mission, NEC has reverted to the district tally centre process; and the same is embedded in the NEC Strategic Plan 2020-2024, which was launched on 18 November 2020. Regarding the conduct of effective and sustained sensitisation and awareness-raising campaign on gender mainstreaming, NEC has established departments for sensitisation, gender and disability departments.
Para 66) GoSL launched the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment policy on 3 December 2020. Even before the launch of the policy, the Government had already taken deliberate actions to ensure gender parity. The MFAIC, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, the MGCA, the Ministry of Fisheries, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the Auditor General, are some of the highest offices of the land held by women.
Para 67) Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament increased from 12.4% in 2012 to 12.9% in 2018. The proportion of female mayors and local councillors and chairpersons increased from 18% to 28.6% over the same period.
Para 68) According to Cluster 5 of Sierra Leone’s MTNDP, 2019-2023, a key target is to ensure that more women are in a leadership position than there were in 2018 when the plan was launched.
Para 69) The Government continues to appoint women to senior governance positions. In line with the Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference at the UN in New York concerning 20% increase in female intake in RSLAF, 328 special female officer cadets were recruited.
Para 70) The Sierra Leone Police continues to implement its Gender Mainstreaming policy through accelerated promotion scheme for female personnel. This serves as incentives for women to join the SLP. In the Sierra Leone Correctional Services (SLCS), equal opportunities exist for both male and female applicants to sit entrance examination, go through the same interview process and successful candidates employed.
Para 76) The GoSL has, through NaCSA developed programmes aimed to reduce poverty and improving the economy. This programme has several components of poverty reductions, which includes the following: The Pro-Poor Growth for Peace Consolidation (GPC) Programme co-financed by the Governments of Sierra Leone and the Federal Republic of Germany aims at primarily improving the livelihoods of beneficiary communities and contributes to development and consolidation of peace, with a specific focus on employment creation and income generation for vulnerable groups (youths and women) in selected rural communities. … • Also, NaCSA has programmes aimed at addressing the plight of women, children and other vulnerable groups. Through this, NaCSA solicited funds to ensure that women and children are protected. This had been achieved through the various social protection programmes implemented nationwide with NaCSA providing income support to 2,250 women.
Para 77) Also, the War Reparation Programme, which has now ended, targeted vulnerable widows and were provided with a rehabilitation grant of Le 3.5 Billion.
Para 118) Some violations have always been inherent within the structures of the society for decades, predicated upon dubious traditional practices and beliefs. FGM, as a harmful practice on the girl child, is difficult to eliminate or legislate out of existence because of the traditional and cultural belief systems.
Para 122) In February 2019, the Government launched the MTNDP as the fourth-generation Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). The key objective of the Plan is to achieve and improve education, hence a Free Quality School Education, as a basis for the development of human capital to facilitate the transformation of women’s empowerment, …
UN Compilation:
Para 4) The Peacebuilding Support Office of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs stated that the Peacebuilding Fund had been active in Sierra Leone since 2007, with $62 million allocated to date towards initiatives in support of …, young people and women’s participation and empowerment …
Para 20) The United Nations country team noted that traditional harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation, remained prevalent in Sierra Leone. While noting successful efforts to include practitioners of female genital mutilation in the fight against such mutilation, the Committee on the Rights of the Child was seriously concerned that female genital mutilation was still not prohibited in law for children.
Para 21) The United Nations country team regretted that, despite measures taken, secret societies continued to practise female genital mutilation, including on underage girls. It noted that in 2019, following reports of misuse of secret societies, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development had banned the activities of secret societies.
Para 42) … Women and members of other vulnerable groups, such as elderly persons and persons with disabilities, faced challenges in accessing financial, technology and market services [during the COVID-19 pandemic].
Para 52) The United Nations country team noted that Sierra Leone had ratified major international and regional treaties and conventions that upheld equality and prohibited discrimination based on gender. However, Sierra Leone was ranked 153rd out of 162 countries in the 2018 gender inequality index. Gender inequalities were exacerbated by discriminatory cultural norms that impinged on women’s access to power, resources and privileges. The prohibition of discrimination based on gender in the areas of marriage, divorce, adoption and devolution of property on death was established in the Constitution.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 32) European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) was alarmed that, despite efforts deployed by the Government, Sierra Leone still had one of the highest rates of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the word, with an estimated 90% of women and girls having suffered mutilation. Plan International (PI) regretted the lack of legislation criminalizing FGM. According to JS2, CUMG-SL and ECLJ, Sierra Leone continued to face challenges in combating FGM because it is rooted in cultural and traditional practices. ECLJ emphasized the negative role of the Bondo society who encouraged and carried out FGM ceremonies, and noted that, while initiations are illegal, there was still not a law against the pervasive practice of FGM itself in force.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 63) The-Carter Center (CC) regretted that women candidates have limited opportunities to participate in political processes, and that only two of 17 presidential candidates were female, and represented only 12.5% of all parliamentarian candidates. According toCC, the low number of female nominees reflected a lack of political will to improve gender equality in public institutions. It further noted that a Gender Equality Bill had been in the drafting process since 2013, and has not yet been made into law.
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:ColombiaColombiaRegional groupGRULACPolitical groupOASOEIACSIssue:
- Gender equality
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:RecommendationSession:24th session, January 2016Status:AcceptedContents:Ensure equality of rights between men and women to acquire, transfer, change or conserve nationality and transmit it to children born abroad, as recommended in the CEDAW.ImplementationNational Report:
Para 55) The Sierra Leone Citizenship Act, 1973 as amended by the Sierra Leone Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2006, now accords citizenship to any child born of a Sierra Leonean mother even when the father is of a different nationality. So, for a woman to transfer her citizenship to her children she must be a citizen of Sierra Leone.
UN Compilation:
Para 7) The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations country team welcomed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2017, which provided transmission of citizenship also by mothers.
Stakeholder Summary:
Para 23) CUMG-SL noted with satisfaction that the Citizens Act of 1973 was repealed in 2017 in order to recognize the right of women to transfer citizenship.
Para 24) JS3 regretted the lack of legislative reforms to guarantee the right of women to transmit citizenship to their foreign spouses on an equal basis with men.
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:Stakeholder SummaryIssue:
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:Review DocumentationSession:24th session, January 2016Status:Reference AddressedContents:... ICAAD recommended that the Government focus on changing traditional norms that affect women's access to education; continue to devote resources to increase girl's participation in education and improve the quality of education. [Para 34] -
State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:Stakeholder SummaryIssue:
- Maternal health / morbidity / mortality
Type:Review DocumentationSession:24th session, January 2016Status:Reference AddressedContents:... ICAAD recommended that the Government continue its campaign to reduce maternal mortality ... [Para 62] -
State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:UN CompilationIssue:
- Discrimination based on sexual orientation
- Discrimination based on gender identity
Type:Review DocumentationSession:24th session, January 2016Status:Reference AddressedContents:The Human Rights Committee urged Sierra Leone to review the Constitution and legislation to ensure that discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity was prohibited. [Para 16] -
State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:UN CompilationIssue:
- Gender equality
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:Review DocumentationSession:24th session, January 2016Status:Reference AddressedContents:CEDAW expressed concern about the low enrolment and completion rates of girls at the secondary and tertiary levels of education. It recommended that Sierra Leone ensure equal access for women and girls to all levels of education, retain more girls in school, reduce geographical disparities in access to education and improve the educational infrastructure, especially in rural areas. UNESCO encouraged Sierra Leone to promote equal access to education, especially by implementing programmes to ban discrimination against girls and women. [Para 67] -
State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:National ReportIssue:
- Marginalized groups of women
- Women's and / or girls' rights
Type:Review DocumentationSession:24th session, January 2016Status:N/AContents:Plans are underway for the reconstruction and extension of the fencing of Kabala Prison, the barricading of Port Loko and Kono prison to separate the male from the female wing ...
Plans are also underway to construct a saloon at the Freetown Female Prison for inmates to acquire skills in hair dressing and all workshops in the Freetown Central Prison were refurbished by a development partner, Don Bosco. A prison showroom in the Prison Lower Barracks will display finished products from the prison workshops. [Paras 60, 61] -
State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:National ReportIssue:
- Women's and / or girls' rights
- HIV and AIDS
Type:Review DocumentationSession:11th session, May 2011Status:N/AContents:"Government will continue to ensure that programmes, services and support for HIV prevention reach the general population. The HIV Prevention Act of 2007 has been criticised for what is claimed to be its discriminatory provisions against women. The Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs is currently reviewing these provisions to ensure better protection for all. [Para 40]" -
State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:UN CompilationIssue:
- Gender equality
Type:Review DocumentationSession:11th session, May 2011Status:Reference AddressedContents:"CEDAW encouraged the establishment of a legislative basis for the use of temporary special measures and urged the elaboration of concrete goals, such as quotas and timetables to accelerate achievement of substantive equality between women and men for each area. [Para 17]" -
State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:Stakeholder SummaryIssue:
- International human rights instruments
Type:Review DocumentationSession:11th session, May 2011Status:Reference AddressedContents:"IRC recommended, inter alia, ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the
Rights of Women in Africa. [Para 27]" -
State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:UN CompilationIssue:
- Female genital mutilation / cutting
Type:Review DocumentationSession:38th Session, May 2021Status:Reference AddressedContents:The United Nations country team recommended increasing efforts to fully eliminate female genital mutilation by enacting and enforcing legislation that prohibited that practice in all its forms, and carrying out awareness-raising campaigns and a national debate on the harmful effects of the practice on girls, women and wider society. The CRC urged Sierra Leone to continue to fight, with the assistance of former female practitioners of female genital mutilation, to eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation, and accelerate efforts and programmes to sensitize and assist practitioners of female genital mutilation to find alternative sources of income and encourage them to abandon the practice. [Para 22]
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:Stakeholder SummaryIssue:
- Maternal health / morbidity / mortality
- Marginalized groups of women
- Right to health
Type:Review DocumentationSession:38th Session, May 2021Status:Not Followed up with a RecommendationContents:JS3 recommended that Sierra Leone, in line with the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (Bangkok Rules), develop gender-specific alternatives to custodial measures. JS1, JS4 and JS8 recommended increasing efforts to improve detention conditions, including by allocating adequate resources to ensure compliance with the Nelson Mandela Rules; and reducing overcrowding in prisons by releasing pregnant women, women with children, elderly prisoners and those led in pre-trial detention for minor offences. The organizations also recommended providing for women’s specific physical and mental health needs, including gynaecological care; ensuring that women in prison can work and actively participate in their reintegration, and providing them with appropriate educational and training programmes to improve their employment prospects. [Para 30]
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:Stakeholder SummaryIssue:
- Gender equality
- Women's participation
Type:Review DocumentationSession:38th Session, May 2021Status:Reference AddressedContents:CC recommended the adoption of the Gender Equality Bill and reducing the candidate registration fees to support greater gender equality in politics. It also encouraged political parties to strengthen internal processes to nominate women for office. CUMG-SL recommended to scale up the 30% quota implementation of women inclusion in decision making. [Para 63]
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State Under Review:Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneRegional groupAfrica GroupPolitical groupAUOICCommonwealthSource Of Reference:AustraliaAustraliaRegional groupWEOGPolitical groupPIFCommonwealthIssue:
- Female genital mutilation / cutting
Type:RecommendationSession:38th Session, May 2021Status:Unclear ResponseContents:Implement legislation that prohibits female genital mutilation practices; protect and assist survivors; and support educational outreach to relevant communities on the harms of female genital mutilation.
ExplanationNoted. Sierra Leone has in place several measures to address the human rights concerns of female genital mutilation (FGM). Despite those measures, the right to associate and freedom of assembly conflict with some of the recommendations that call for a complete ban on FGM.