Speaking at the House of Parliament on Thursday 10th December, 2020, Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh underscores the importance of human rights but most importantly explains its significant role in the trajectory of human development in Sierra Leone.
In his addressed, the VP indicated that building institutions to nurture and help build a strong human rights culture is critical thus government will continue to complement the efforts of the Human Rights Commission and the New established Peace and National Cohesion Commission will also provide the platform and space for Civil Society Organizations to dialogue with government on human rights issues and to criticize constructively.
According to the VP, structures and agency factors are sustainable components of support practices that the government of Sierra Leone is vigorously pursuing as means of deepening democratic practices in the country through establishing and supporting platforms for suitable engagement and criticism. He noted that all these efforts is 100% supported by government. He added that the theme of this year’s International Human Rights celebration within the context of COVID-19: Recover Better, Stand up for Human Rights resonates well with government’s commitment.
Consequently, he stated that in the efforts made by government to fight COVID-19, fundamental human rights were respected within the proactive measures that were put in place with a view to saving lives and livelihoods that included the Quick Action Recovery Plan and emphasis on social protection for the most vulnerable members of society, who he said going forward, government will continue to allocate more resources to human rights issues.
VP Jalloh concluded by stating that lessons learnt by both government and the people from the COVID-19 fight as we look to the future include health care delivery and social protection as fundamental pathway to development. He promised that government will continue to support the human rights commission as well as heed to the call for abolishing of the death penalty.
