A/HRC/10/52
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only 231 million leones (US$ 77,000) for the Commission, which cannot cover the work of this
institution. To avoid a funding gap and enhance the sustainability of the Commission, a
three-year Strategic Action Plan has been developed by the Commission and work is now in
progress with the technical support of UNIPSIL, backstopped by OHCHR, to develop the plan
into a project proposal for the establishment of a basket fund for multi-donor support. Irish Aid
has already made available the sum of €300,000 to UNDP for this basket fund.
G. Constitutional Review Commission
31. On 10 January 2008, the Constitutional Review Commission, established by the
Government on 24 October 2006, submitted its report to the President. Thus far, the Government
has made no pronouncements as to how it intends to deal with this report. The Commission
proposed 136 amendments to the 1991 Constitution, 15 of which are entrenched provisions and
require a national referendum for approval. A number of the proposed amendments relate to
human rights and fundamental freedoms, including recommendations to (a) amend the
provisions under section 27 (4) (d) (e) allowing discrimination against women, (b) render the
national Human Rights Commission a constitutional body, and (c) introduce a list of
non-derogable rights which cannot be restricted during periods of declared emergencies.
However, the proposed amendments, taken together, fall short of addressing the
recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and laying a foundation for
peace, good governance and economic development. A number of key issues that warrant
constitutional attention, such as separation of powers, checks and balances, decentralization, and
the role of district councils and paramount chiefs were not adequately addressed.
H. United Nations Peacebuilding Fund
32. In 2008, implementation of a number of projects approved under the United Nations
Peacebuilding Fund started, particularly in the area of human rights and the rule of law. These
include among others, the US$ 3.4 million justice sector project to build the capacity of the
judiciary and justice sector institutions; the US$ 1.5 million Human Rights Commission project
to operationalize the Commission and assist in building its capacity; the US$ 1.5 million prison
project to address the overcrowding and poor conditions in prisons; and the US$ 3.4 million
reparations project to address the plight of the victims of the civil conflict and to restore their
human dignity.
II. RULE OF LAW AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
INCLUDING TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
A. Rule of law and administration of justice
33. Significant progress was made in the justice sector in 2008. A task force constituted by the
President on 30 November 2007 to examine the reasons for the delay in the administration of
justice and other related matters submitted its report with recommendations on 25 January 2008,
to which the Government positively responded. It undertook to implement the recommendations
within the framework of a three-year justice sector reform strategy and on 19 February 2008, the
Government launched the Justice Sector Reform Strategy and Investment Plan 2008-2010. To
coordinate and facilitate the implementation of the Strategy, a justice sector coordination office
was established in the Ministry of Justice in 2008. UNDP, jointly with the Government, also
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