A/HRC/13/28
49.
During the period under review, prisons and detention facilities of the police were
also regularly monitored. Prisons in Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Freetown remained
overcrowded. The Human Rights Section also observed that the number of prisoners
fluctuated, owing also to the large number of prisoners convicted for loitering, a minor
offence. For example, in a visit on 21 October to Bo prison, it was observed that 50
prisoners were serving sentences for loitering of a total of 159 inmates. Similarly, Makeni
prison was also overcrowded owing to a large number of prisoners convicted for loitering.
50.
Police detention cells in most districts were in a derelict condition. There were cases
of detention beyond the period stipulated by the Constitution. The challenges facing the
criminal justice system included a lack of necessary logistic facilities and equipment to
investigate crimes effectively, a shortage of pathologists to conduct examinations and the
failure of police to produce witnesses before the court.
B.
Capacity-building
51.
During the period under review, the Human Rights Section implemented a broad
range of activities, including training, advisory services, joint programming and material
support for the promotion and protection of human rights. Training was conducted for
human rights activists, religious leaders, parliamentarians, government officials and
commissioners and staff of the Human Rights Commission, on thematic human rights
issues, as well as on human rights monitoring and reporting. A total of 530 national actors
benefited from the training. Human Rights Committees, an umbrella group of local civil
society in Kambia, Port Loko, Bombali, Tonkolili, Pujehun and Bonthe, was provided with
material support such as computers, furniture and other material. A human rights resource
centre was established in Freetown, equipped with necessary facilities, such as computers
with Internet connections, furniture and a human rights resource library. Work is in
progress to establish a library in the Pademba road prison, in collaboration with the Justice
Sector Development Programme and other actors. The Human Rights Section also
implemented joint activities with civil society and the Human Rights Commission in the
sensitization on human rights and the need for implementation of the recommendations of
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, human rights monitoring and the
commemoration of United Nations days, including International Human Rights Day. The
Human Rights Section supported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the area of treaty
reporting. Logistic support and staff were provided to the treaty reporting secretariat of the
Ministry that had been established pursuant to the national strategy on treaty reporting,
elaborated with advice from the Human Rights Section. Technical support was provided to
prepare a common-core document, to be submitted to treaty bodies.
C.
1.
Partnership with national actors and United Nations agencies
Human Rights Commission
52.
The Human Rights Commission published its second annual human rights status
report in June 2009. The Human Rights Section provided technical support to the
Commission in the preparation of the report, and financial support was provided to print
copies of the report for wider distribution. The Commission held discussions on the report
and its recommendations with political parties, parliamentarians, civil society and other
partners to inform the broader population on the situation of human rights in the country.
53.
The Human Rights Section also provided technical support to the Commission in the
finalization of its three-year strategic plan for 2009-2011. In August, the Executive
Representative of the Secretary-General convened a meeting of international partners to
GE.10-10771
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