The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone yesterday launched the 10th annual report of the 2016 on the state of human rights in Sierra Leone highlighting the acute of shortage of water in the country.
The report data was collected from both primary and secondary sources, which were analyzed using the rights guaranteed in international and regional instruments to which Sierra Leone.
Primary sources of the report included complaints received, investigations conducted, interviews held, monitoring activities conducted and strategic engagements whilst secondary sources were policies, legislative reviews and media reports
The Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, Usman Fornah, after presenting the report to President Koroma, explained that the acute of shortage of water in the country especially during the dry season is affecting the wellbeing of children and women.
The report captured issues relating to the existence of obsolete labour laws and the lack of industrial court in the regions including Bo and Kenema and Makeni.
The report also highlighted the lack of trained and qualified teachers in the educational sector and the untimely delivery and sometimes the non-availability of essential drugs in various hospitals.
Infant mortality rate for Sierra Leone is at 87 per 1,000 and maternal mortality is at 1,360 per 100,0000 live birth according to UN 2015 report. He said previous human rights reports are not taken seriously by relevant Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA’s) for action.
He said the 2016 report will be presented to Parliament for action by President Koroma in a bid to create an engagement between the Commission and (MDA’s).
He said the report also focused on the issue of safe abortions and called on the government of Sierra Leone through Parliament to pass the safe abortion bill.
He also appealed to the Government to address the funding gaps at the Human Rights Commission.
By Saidu Bah
Friday November 17, 2017.