A/HRC/10/52
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46. Significant work was done in the area of human rights education for secondary schools. In
August 2008, the Section, jointly with the Ministry of Education, organized a national
consultative forum on the integration of human rights in the curriculum of secondary schools.
The forum concluded that human rights education should not only be incorporated into the
existing curriculum of junior and secondary schools, but should also be made mandatory for all
schools. The forum also identified the subjects in which human rights should be integrated. The
United Nations remains engaged in this process.
47. As part of the year-long advocacy on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, launched
by the Secretary-General, the United Nations conducted several activities including radio
programmes, nationwide sensitization workshops in communities and in schools, erection of
billboards depicting the various articles of the Declaration, distribution of promotional materials
(calendars, folders, stickers, etc.). Sensitization on the Declaration was also conducted
in 12 prisons.
48. In the justice sector, in addition to regularly monitoring the activities of the police, prisons
and the courts, the Human Rights and Rule of Law Section collaborated with key partners to
build the capacity of the justice sector institutions, improve justice delivery, and enhance judicial
independence. UNIOSIL completed a draft handbook on human rights and the independence of
the judiciary, to serve as a guide to human rights in the administration of justice for judges and
magistrates. UNIOSIL provided technical support and advisory services in furtherance of the
implementation of the justice sector capacity-building project, which received a US$ 3 million
grant under the Peacebuilding Fund, and staff members served on the steering committee of the
project. For prisons, the United Nations provided technical and advisory services in developing
the capacity-building project for the prisons which received US$ 1.5 million support under the
Peacebuilding Fund. UNIOSIL also computerized the data collection and documentation system
at the Pademba Road Prison.
49. The Human Rights and Rule of Law Section, in collaboration with UNDP,
trained 100 police prosecutors and investigators on human rights in the administration of justice
and on various aspects of the prosecutorial process. A manual on relevant national and
international standards on human rights in the administration of justice was compiled and
distributed. In collaboration with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in the
Ministry of Justice, the Section also produced a manual for police prosecutors aimed at providing
practical guidance in their day-to-day work. In collaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare,
Gender and Children’s Affairs, the Justice Sector Development Programme, the Sierra Leone
Police, the International Rescue Committee, Action Aid and Defence for Children International,
a contribution was provided to the development of a training manual for the Family Support Unit
(FSU) of the police for training FSU staff nationwide. In addition the Section trained 65 police
officers selected for deployment in United Nations missions on various aspects of human rights,
including women’s rights and gender in peacekeeping.
50. The Section provided advisory services to the Constitutional Review Commission, and
made a written submission in which it drew the attention of the Commission to the
recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on constitutional reform and also
suggested recommendations on a number of provisions that require amendment to ensure
conformity with international norms and standards.
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