The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Thursday, 16th October 2025, concluded the 4th Cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) National Engagement at its conference room in Freetown.
During the meeting, Charlie Grant, a representative from ICO, commended the efforts of the Sierra Leone Judiciary, Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other partners. He appreciated the capacity-building workshop, noting that the event was crucial for ensuring the voices of the people are reflected in the national report. “Through the UPR process, your contribution can lead to real change,” he emphasized.
The Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, Patricia Nrsu Ndanema expressed delight at being part of the engagement. She explained that the Human Rights Commission is an autonomous body under the Human Rights Council since 2022, mandated to contribute to national, regional, and international reporting by providing independent opinions on reports submitted to the UN treaty bodies and other mechanisms. She added that strengthening national engagement with the UPR is vital, noting that over the past year, the Commission has established a robust and systematic framework to coordinate with different actors across sectors.
Following the last UPR review in 2021, the Commission has continued to build partnerships and taken several initiatives to support the process. Madam Patricia stated, “The Commission has also broadened its consultation and sustained engagement with civil society, NGOs, the media, and other key partners.”
Mr. Brima M. Lamin, representing the Judiciary of Sierra Leone, reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to the UPR process. He disclosed that after the 2021 review, the country received 274 recommendations, accepting 216 of them demonstrating the government’s commitment to reform. Over the past four years, Sierra Leone has implemented several laws and policies, including the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2025, Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2022, Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act 2022, and the Criminal Procedure Act 2024.
He, however, noted challenges such as limited access to justice in rural areas and inadequate human resources. Mr. Lamin added that the Judiciary remains committed to supporting the government in criminalizing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), enforcing child marriage laws, providing legal aid, and conducting community sensitization.
Giving an overview of the engagement, Rev. Gibrilla Kargbo, Chairman of the event, said the session provided a platform for dialogue among government institutions, civil society organizations, NGOs, and other stakeholders involved in human rights. The objective, he said, was to gather input and perspectives to inform both the official and shadow reports to the UN Human Rights Council, assess progress in implementing recommendations, and strengthen national ownership of the UPR process.
