Reverend Moses Kanu who is one of the Commissioners of the newly formed Human Rights Commission (HRC) has said in Freetown that one of the roles of the commission is to protect Human Rights in the country and so they have been organizing public education programs to inform the people about their rights.
During the 9th celebration of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court organized by Manifesto 99, Rev. Kanu added that they do investigate Human Rights violations through out the country whether domestic or not, and so they are making sure that the people know their rights.
“We have to be mindful that Sierra Leoneans should say no to violence and that we should not return from where we come from. Humanity must learn to live in peace and allow justice to prevail” he said.
Talking about the theme for this year’s celebration, Mohamed Suma of the Sierra Leonean Court Monitoring Project said, Sierra Leone is now transforming from conflict resolution to peace development.
He said that for a peaceful country there should be accountability as it helps address impunity, promote the rule of law and increase the chance of attaining peace.
Glenna Thompson of the Justice Sector Development Program (JSDP) said that most Sierra Leoneans access justice through the local courts which has many problems as they do not function properly and do not help the people.
The JSDP Administrator of Justice Manager remarked that they aim at ensuring that the officials of the formal court are efficient and non biased as this is a major factor why people do not seek justice through this means.
Pledging her organization’s support, Ms. Thompson said they will continue to strengthen the non-formal justice sector and ensure that Sierra Leoneans have access to justice.
In his keynote address, which was read by the Special Court Outreach Chief Binta Mansaray, Justice Bankole Thompson quoting from Webster dictionary said “Justice is mankind’s greatest interest on earth and the ligament that binds all civilized nations together.”
Justice Thompson echoed that the emergence and development of international criminal law and the protection of human rights are logically and practically interconnected and “their common origin is international humanitarian law.”
He added that Human Rights “provide the basis for individual responsibility for alleged transgressions of human right.”
The Special Court Judge said that the inception of international criminal justice is a good initiative as it is an effort to map out the world that threatens the peaceful high of civilizations.
Medical and Dental Council condemns illegal advertisements
The Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Council (SLMDC) has taken a stance in condemning the illegal advertisement which is being done by some individuals and organizations who are advertising their medical products and practice through the public radio and television.
The Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Council in a release stated that it was established through an Act of Parliament as is governed by the Medical Practitioners and Dental Surgeons Act of 1994/1996 which has the sole responsibility to register National and Foreign Medical Doctors and Dentists in the country.
This act of advertising medical products and practice the release states is unethical from the professional points of view as most of the medical institutions advertising are not registered with the council.
Inorder to ensure that this request is complied with, the Council has proposed that a letter of authority be issued by the Council to all those who seek to advertise or put out any announcement from any station.
The SLMDC further urged managers of radio and television stations both in Freetown and in the provinces to reject any such advertisement from any member of the public.
ADVERTISEMENT