A/HRC/13/28 I. Introduction 1. In 2009, the Human Rights and Rule of Law Section of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) was engaged in implementing the human rights aspects of Security Council resolution 1829 (2008) and the subsequent extension under resolution 1886 (2009), namely, monitoring and promoting human rights, democratic institutions and the rule of law, and reviewing the Constitution of 1991 and relevant legislation. The Human Rights Section provided advisory and technical support to the independent national institution for human rights, and also implemented capacitydevelopment projects with combined funding support from UNIPSIL and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The Human Rights Section carried out its activities through field offices in Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Kono, in close collaboration with the United Nations country team, relevant government agencies, including the Human Rights Commission, and civil society. 2. There were a number of positive developments in 2009, notably in relation to legislative, economic and social rights. Parliament enacted a new Chieftaincy Act, which mandated the National Electoral Commission to conduct the election of paramount chiefs to ensure that elections are conducted in a fair and free manner. This amended the previous practice whereby elections were conducted by the local administration. Elections were held for 40 vacant positions of paramount chiefs in December under the new act. While serious challenges to securing the full enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights confront Sierra Leone, 2009 saw the unveiling of a second poverty reduction strategy, dubbed the Agenda for Change, and a five-year health strategy. II. Situation of human rights A. 1. Civil and political rights Extrajudicial killings 3. There were some instances of violations of the right to life by State authorities. For example, in September 2009, in Lungi, 3 people were shot dead and at least 13 others were injured as a result of the use of excessive force by the police, who opened fire on demonstrators attacking a police post. Monitors from the Human Rights Section observed that the police failed to take the necessary precautionary actions and give adequate warning before firing live bullets. The lack of adequate non-lethal equipment at the police station, namely tear gas, was also a reason for the police to resort to live bullets. Although the Government has carried out an investigation into the incident, no action has been initiated to date against the responsible police officers. In February, when secondary school pupils rioted at the national stadium during an inter-school sporting activity, police fired tear gas canisters into the area, injuring many children, some as young as 6 years old. 4. Ritual murders continued in various parts of the country, and no successful prosecution or effective investigation into these cases was undertaken. In January, a ritual murder was reported in Moyamba district, where the body of a female child was found with some body parts removed. In June, a minor girl was murdered for ritual purposes in Bombali; her remains were found with body parts missing. In September, a 6-year-old boy residing in Kissi Tang, Kailahun, was murdered and certain body parts were removed. 5. The de facto moratorium on the death penalty, which has been in place for the past 10 years, was respected. A total of 15 prisoners, including 3 females, have been sentenced to death, although the sentences have not been executed. The Truth and Reconciliation 4 GE.10-10771