Sierra Leone Human Rights Organisations and Donor Community Meet
British High Commission Hosts a UPR Roundtable for Human Rights Organisations and the Donor Community in Sierra Leone
Roundtable Engagement
On 11 January the British High Commission hosted a cross-section of Civil Society and Human Rights Organisations, with members of the diplomatic community and international organisations for a roundtable discussion on human rights in Sierra Leone.
Welcoming participants, High Commissioner Peter West said that “the British High Commission is pleased to be able to provide a platform for civil society to connect with members of the diplomatic and donor community to discuss human rights. With Sierra Leone preparing for its second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on 27 January 2016, the time is right for us to consider the country’s human rights performance, and to look ahead to the next five year cycle and beyond. The UK will continue to work closely with the Government, international partners and civil society to promote and protect the rights of all Sierra Leoneans.”
Each of the Civil Society and Human Rights Organisations gave their assessment of the current human rights landscape and presented recommendations for strengthening human rights in Sierra Leone. The event was well attended, with representatives from: Amnesty International; Prisons Watch; Human Rights Defenders Network; Western Area District Human Rights Committee; Centre for Accountability & Rule of Law; Institute for Governance Reform; and the CSO Universal Periodic Review Monitoring Group.