by Ishmael Bayoh
Sierra Leone’s Human Rights status has continued to improve since 2018 under President Julius Maada Bio. With a series of reforms that are human rights compliant and giving the country’s national human rights institution, the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) increased support, the government has not interfered with their functions or activities.
These reforms earned a re-accreditation of a grade A status to the HRCSL and on Wednesday 15th March 2023, the Commission received in Geneva a re-accreditation certificate from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).
This was achieved after the HRCSL, and the state went through a review process in 2022 for the promotion and protection of human rights in Sierra Leone.
The accreditation certificate confirms HRCSL’s full compliance with the Paris Principles governing the establishment and operations of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs).
Chairperson of HRCSL, Patricia Narsu Ndanema and Vice Chairperson, Victor I. Lansana received the certificate on behalf of the Commission during the Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva.