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Sierra Leone

The Human Rights Provisions of the Lome Peace Accord Implementation Bulletin No. 5

Freetown, 15 November 1999
The Bulletin covers the period since October 29. For the preceding period please see Implementation Bulletin No. 4 of 28 October 1999.

Introductory note: The Sierra Leone Human Rights Committee (SLHRC), a consortium of local and international organisations committed to the protection and promotion of human rights, chaired by UNAMSIL, on 29 July 1999 adopted a mechanism to keep track of the implementation of the human rights provisions of the Lome Peace Accord. The Peace Accord, while dealing extensively with issues of direct relevance to human rights, made no provision for a body specifically and exclusively tasked with supervision of the implementation of the human rights provisions. In view of the importance accorded to human rights issues in the Accord, the SLHRC is therefore to make periodic assessments on the status of each of the key human rights commitments as well as to document steps taken, programmes initiated or achievements made in each thematic area. This assessment will enable the signatories of the Accord and international and civil society actors to be in a position to tailor effective responses to problems and help identify areas in which additional work needs to be done.

This Implementation Bulletin, prepared and edited by the SLHRC Secretariat, with full secretariat support from UNAMSIL, based on reports of member organisations, is aimed at providing updates on the implementation of the human rights provisions of the Lome Accord. The Bulletin serves as a progress report and is issued at regular intervals, with wide distribution. While striving for comprehensiveness the Bulletin is not an exhaustive source on all implementation issues. Readers with further data or corrections are asked to convey them to the SLHRC with a view to inclusion in future editions.

Cluster 1

Establishment of institutions / mechanisms

Relevant articles in the Accord: VI, VIII, XII, XXV, XXIX, XXVI, and XXXII

  • Mr. Foday Sankoh and Lt. Col. J.P. Koroma have been appointed as Chairmen of, respectively, the Committee for the Management of Strategic Resources, National Reconstruction and Development, and the Committee on the Consolidation of Peace. Neither body has yet met.
  • Joint Monitoring Committee: Continues to meet regularly.
  • Committee on Humanitarian Implementation: No developments since it met for the first time on 16 / 9 / 99. However, a large component of the membership met with Chairmen Koroma and Sankoh on 29 October. For the outcome see below.
  • Truth and Reconciliation Commission: The OHCHR consultant on Truth and Reconciliation Commission completed a two-week mission during which she held consultations with key players in government and the civil society on the establishment of the TRC. Following the mission, OHCHR will submit to Government a draft TRC statute.
  • Human Rights Commission: The Special Advisor of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on National Institutions visited Sierra Leone from 8-10 November to hold consultations with government officials, donors and civil society leaders on the creation of an independent Human Rights Commission. Following the mission it is expected that OHCHR will develop a draft statute on the establishment of a Human Rights Commission for consideration by the Government.

Cluster 2

Release of combat-related prisoners and abductees

Relevant articles in the Accord: XXI and Statement of 2 June 1999

  • Spontaneous releases continue, with great assistance from ECOMOG which encounters the former abductees (usually children) at its checkpoints. No figures are available.
  • The Prisoner Release Committee, chaired by UNAMSIL, has undertaken further visits to areas under control of RUF. A visit to Segbwema, on 1 November, led to commitments for the release of both adult and children abductees. Further visits were not possible in the reporting period for security and logistical reasons.
  • An unknown number of former abductees are believed to have accompanied combatants to DDR sites at locations such as Port Loko. UNAMSIL is currently investigating the incidence of this practice.
  • All of those abducted in the October attack on a bus near Masiaka are reported to have returned to their homes
  • There are persistent reports of ongoing abduction in the areas close to Lungi and Port Loko. In the worst reported incident it is alleged, but unconfirmed, that ex-SLA elements took 40 people from Rosenry village, near Port Loko, on 12 November. Some of the abductees are reported to have subsequently either escaped or been released.
  • It is reported from the Lungi-Port Loko axis that abductees are being forced to harvest rice
  • Evidence has been obtained of attempts by abductors to extort money from the families of abducted persons in return for their release. One such case involved an attempt, by letter on 29 October, to obtain 300,000 Leone in return for the release of a young girl who is being held in Makeni.

Cluster 3

Specific Issues related to Children

Relevant articles in the Accord: XXX, XXXI

  • There remain 2400 children registered as missing from the Western Area since the January rebel incursion.
  • According to UNICEF, 19 children were released to the organisation during the reporting period
  • For further information see above.

Cluster 4

Promotion of voluntary return of refugees and IDPs

Relevant articles in the Accord: XXII and XXIII

  • UNHCR reports the current number of Sierra Leone refugees at 460,000, with some 380,000 in Guinea and 80,000 in Liberia.
  • Of these, some 173,000 originate in Kailahun, 160,000 in Kono, 34,000 in Kambia, 28,000 in Kenema and 20,000 in Freetown. With the exception of Freetown and parts of Kenema all of these locations remain largely inaccessible. Organised voluntary repatriation is unlikely to begin until the middle of the year 2000.
  • Some 3,000 ex-SLA members are expected to return soon from Liberia
  • Fighting along the Makeni - Kabala axis in recent weeks has resulted in a movement of at least 1,000 civilians northwards.

Cluster 5

Promotion of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights including the issue of humanitarian assistance

Relevant articles in the Accord: VII, XXVII, XXVIII, and XXXI and Statement of 2 June 1999

  • Humanitarian agencies indicated during the reporting period that some 50% of the national population of 4.6 million can be categorised as either displaced or war-affected. They report that, "most of these have not been accessed or assessed". It is considered that, as of September 1999, just 61% of the population were accessible for humanitarian assessment and assistance. (an increase from 52% in June 1999)
  • The instability in the Northern Province has continued to pose difficulties for humanitarian agencies attempting to carry out basic operations; in late October, following the fighting in Makeni and Lunsar, humanitarian assistance was suspended in large parts of the province. While some medical, nutrition and food interventions have now been possible, it has only been after considerable and unsustainable effort. Roads from Freetown to locations in the North continue to be insecure. Assessments of these areas indicated a dire humanitarian situation particularly in the area of food and health care. In sharp contrast to the north, the southern, western and parts of the east continue to be calm, providing relatively good conditions for relief operations.
  • The Lungi / Port Loko axis remains very risky for humanitarian activity due to incidents of foraging and related attacks by elements of the former rebels.
  • On November 3, Chairmen Sankoh and Koroma issued strongly worded statements in support for the work of the humanitarian community and deploring any interference with their activities
  • It is reported this week that, as a result of war damage and related physical deterioration, out of 954 schools surveyed, just 52 are not in need of repair.
  • Figures this week also highlight a 70% decrease in the number of functioning primary health units during 1999; and, the disrepair of all but one of Sierra Leone's 42 water treatment plants.

Cluster 6

Promotion and protection of civil and political rights (and Constitutional Review)

Relevant articles in the Accord: III, X, XII, XVII, XXIII and XXIV

  • The reporting period has been marked by repeated reports of abuses of the rights of civilians by former rebel elements. There have been daily reports of attacks on villages, and associated rape, abduction, looting, and various forms of intimidation. In one incident, three people drowned when their boat capsized while being pursued by former rebel elements. Fear still causes displacement of civilian populations. Most of the reported attacks have occurred in the Port Loko area and along the Port Loko-Lungi axis. See above regarding abductions, treatment of abductees, and interference with delivery of humanitarian assistance.
  • Reports continue to be received of harsh regimes operating in areas under RUF control. Accounts have been received of summary executions or threats thereof, imposition of harsh "food taxes" and a general terrorisation of what remains of the civilian populations.
  • There have been reports of harassment of the civilian population by CDF elements in the Northwest and in the Bo area. A number of these incidents are subject to police investigation.

Cluster 7

Sensitisation of the community regarding the human rights provisions of the Lome Peace Accord.

  • No significant development in the reporting period.