I am alarmed by reports of several casualties and fatalities yesterday in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown during public protests.
I call on the Government of Sierra Leone to hold prompt, impartial and thorough investigations into yesterday’s violence and bring those responsible to account regardless of their status and political affiliation. I urge all sides to embrace dialogue.
Sierra Leone must remain firmly on the path of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The authorities should facilitate rather than seek to prevent peaceful protests, and desist from unnecessary and disproportionate responses to the protests such as shutting down the Internet and imposing open-ended curfews.
END
For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Geneva
Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 /
ravina.shamdasani@un.org or
Liz Throssell - + 41 22 917 9296 /
elizabeth.throssell@un.org or
Jeremy Laurence - +41 22 917 9383 /
jeremy.laurence@un.org
In Nairobi
Seif Magango - +254 788 343 897 /
seif.magango@un.org
Tag and share
Twitter @UNHumanRights
Facebook unitednationshumanrights
Instagram @unitednationshumanrights