Image credits: Morris, Mike Ritter

If reports are true that a petition has been lodged to the Supreme Court in Sierra Leone, let's hope the judiciary will be truly independent and hear this case from the perspective of the protection of the rights and liberties of people and communities. Not from the perspective of protection of executive power.

We are hearing from the judicial branch of our democracy, this is a good thing. It shows our civil and moral consciousnesses are growing. We can all remember times when no lawyer would dare to prepare, let alone arrive at court to submit, such a petition. Those were dark times.

The Sierra Leonean Bar have shown bravery. What is more, they may also share a belief in Sierra Leoneans' vision for our country; a place where the law protects all, even the smallest. Especially the smallest. A place where people can go about their lives without fear. The fear of oppression, violence, arbitrary incarceration, or the fear that their rights and liberties will without any shadow of a doubt be denied. It is a reckless thing to leave people without recourse to justice.

It now remains to be seen whether our Courts have finally matured, whether they recognise their own power and their part to play in the growth of the nation, and whether they have grown the will to join the people they are sworn to protect and shrug off their reputation for allowing injustices to continue indefinitely, supporting the powerful against the weak, 'the government of the day', and the rich against the poor.

"An independent, impartial and competent judiciary is the key component of the rule of law and

the foundation upon which all rights, including non-derogable rights, depend." (Latimer House Principles, endorsed by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their summit in Abuja, Nigeria,

December 2003, Article IV, Independence of the Judiciary)

This turned my mind towards Parliament and how much I looked forward to hearing from our elected representatives. These Members of Parliament who were elected by their own local people and local communities to live among them and engage with civil society, and while living among them to familiarise themselves with the needs of these local communities. Elected to then travel regularly to our nation's capital to deliver their peoples' messages to Parliament (not forgetting of course to come back home and live). Elected to vigilantly fight for their peoples local interests and put them above the interests of multinational corporations, international lobbyists and 'the government of the day'. Elected to protect local livelihoods, environments, communities and families. Elected to scrutinise carefully and revoke, rather than make, unjust laws that take away from local communities the land and resources underneath their own feet, or laws and practises that remove our regional communities' livelihoods and ability to sustainably develop. Elected to oversee, scrutinise and regularly and vigilantly enforce international resource contracts. Elected to be conscious of the value of our resources when deciding their price and ensure strong community-centred clauses and environmental protection are at the heart of every agreement. Elected to show confidence and never, from misguided desperation or promises of favours, allow large companies to irreversibly degrade and pollute our lands and waters or the quality of life of our people who live there.

Image - Plan EU

And Parliament, as a sovereign body that is both master of and subject to our constitution; where the constitution is lacking and biased towards the powerful against local communities, was elected to reform the constitution and make it people and community-centred, make it protect the weak against the strong, promote the richness of ethnic and religious diversity and respect for each others differences, ensure it protects our environment, natural resources and ancestral homes, make it impose on all of us a duty to provide an unoppressive sustainable resilient future for this and future generations.

And elected to remember Parliament's status is not subservient to the executive arm of government.

If Parliament does these things and enforces all of this with the sovereign authority that it was given by the people, it will earn back its lost moral authority.

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Tommy, Ibrahim (2013) article "The rough edges of Sierra Leone’s rule of law credentials" http://politicosl.com/2013/06/the-rough-edges-of-sierra-leone%E2%80%99s-rule-of-law-credentials/ (accessed 25/3/15)

Suma, Mohamed (2014) pp 9-13 Ch 3, Sierra Leone Justice Sector and the Rule of Law "Independence and accountability of judges and lawyers", Afrimap, Open Society Initiative for West Africa http://www.afrimap.org/english/images/report/Sierra%20Leone%20Justice%20DD%20Web.pdf (26/3/15)

Human Rights Committee (2014) "Concluding Observations on the Initial Report of Sierra Leone" http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/SLIndex.aspx (accessed 26/3/15)

On 28.11.2014: I said "Here's hoping we can all come together on this. The epidemic is getting worse. Action needs to be scaled up. http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sierra-leonean-uk-diaspora-ebola-response-taskforce-and-engayde-7702058633"

2/4/2015 Update:

SLUKDERT Report on the 29th November Sierra Leone UK Diaspora Ebola Response Conference London

Venue: Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EG

Click here to download the full SLUKDERT report

Image: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie, SLUKDERT

Executive Summary:

" The meeting captured the views of a wide range of groups and allowed organisations to learn about and link up with those pursuing the same or similar aims.
The meeting was attended by many Sierra Leone Diaspora organisations and individuals working to combat Ebola. This report captures most of the deliberations, decisions and instances of cooperation arising from the meeting.

Image: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie, SLUKDERT

There appeared to be a genuine desire for this to be the first, not a ‘stand-alone’ event and there were encouraging signs of genuine attempts for collaborative working.
Many of the discussions and initiatives indicated a willingness to play a part in assisting in the post-Ebola situation to address many of the shortcomings in the socio-economic fabric exposed by the outbreak.

It was clear that some important organisations (particularly the area/district descendants’ associations) were noticeable by their absence. Steps will be made to reach out to them for any future events as they have a significant role to play. The meeting was able to capture a lot of good contact details and there were clear signs of organisations agreeing to work together in the future.
The taskforce recognized the constraints on a wholly volunteer organisation while committing to continue to facilitate dialogue between organisations, link fundraising efforts and to collaborating with other Diaspora organisations.

Image: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie, SLUKDERT

Among the priorities identified were:

Establishing a network of Sierra Leone Diaspora teachers to feed into and collaborate with teachers and institutions in Sierra Leone. This included seeking links with distance learning while the schools lockdown continues
The mapping exercise described in the report highlighted a desire for better coordination of efforts between the Diaspora and home-based groups
For the taskforce to set up bespoke seminars/conferences around specific professions to look at how they might contribute to the Ebola and post-Ebola efforts in the country
For the taskforce to take the lead in reaching out to Diaspora organisations outside the London area
For the taskforce to continue with its ‘diaspora mapping’ exercise to understand who's doing what, where (and who wants to do what, where) by reaching out to more Sierra Leonean diaspora groups
For the taskforce to signpost individuals and groups to where there is most need
Provide vulnerable people in SL information on organisations that cater for their needs

Image: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie, SLUKDERT

BACKGROUND TO THE MEETING

According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 31 December 2014 Situation
Report, there have been 20,206 reported cases of Ebola virus disease and 7,905 reported deaths across all the three worst-affected outbreak countries, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Sierra
Leone accounts for 9,446 reported cases (47% of the three countries’ total). WHO notes that Ebola
Virus Disease “transmission remains intense in Sierra Leone, with 337 confirmed cases reported in
the week to 28 December, 2014 – more than double the number of cases in Guinea and Liberia combined” and is at its most intense in Sierra Leone’s western and northern districts.

As Ebola continued to ravage Sierra Leone, it was clear that, in addition to international efforts to combat the outbreak, there was a significant role and contribution the Sierra Leone Diaspora could make. The Sierra Leone UK Diaspora Ebola Response Taskforce (SLUKDERT) which was formed in response to the outbreak and includes a wide spectrum of Diaspora Sierra Leoneans organised this meeting to facilitate cooperation between UK-based Diaspora organisations in responding to the crisis and working with organisations on the ground. As such, it was good to see the widest possible spectrum of actors represented at the meeting: NGOs, charities, alumni associations, legal, medical and recruitment organisations, were among some of those present. Implications for development were at the forefront of the discussions.

Image: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie, SLUKDERT

AIMS

a) To foster constructive dialogue and stronger coordination in the Diaspora response to the Ebola crisis
b) To enhance our existing information sharing system relating to Ebola

OBJECTIVES:

a) An opportunity for attendees to share their response to the Ebola crisis
b) To highlight the key activities of the taskforce and its specific operational projects – i.e. the HR roadshow and the shipment of 10 containers
c) For workshops to be action oriented – participants were asked to look at practical inexpensive and simple steps that can be immediately implemented to enhance their response to the Ebola crisis
d) To provide a networking opportunity and to share best practice

DESIRED OUTCOMES

a) Greater understanding of clusters around which Sierra Leonean diasporas in the UK are responding to Ebola crisis
b) At least six areas of discussions, wherein attendees would commit to collaborate around common interest to implement initiatives, share learning, etc.
c) Unity and sense of common purpose is in evidence

In setting the scene, attendees were encouraged to look at how they could contribute by addressing three main aspects of the Diaspora’s reaction: (1) challenges they face as individuals or members of organisations, (2) lessons learned from those challenges and (3) how they could contribute, particularly by collaborating with fellow Sierra Leoneans or friends of Sierra Leone with shared interests. "

SLUKDERT 12 February 2015

Click here to download the full report

Edward Turay Sierra Leonean High Commissioner to the UK Image: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie, SLUKDERT

Jane Ellison Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Public Health Image: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie, SLUKDERT

For full collection of event photos see Facebook: Chukwu-Emeka P F Chikezie,

Sahr O Fasuluku's Blog

Monday, 23 March 2015

Judiciary awakening in Sierra Leone? Will the Legislature follow?

Further Reading:

Tommy, Ibrahim (2013) article "The rough edges of Sierra Leone’s rule of law credentials" http://politicosl.com/2013/06/the-rough-edges-of-sierra-leone%E2%80%99s-rule-of-law-credentials/ (accessed 25/3/15)

Friday, 28 November 2014

Report Released: Sierra Leone UK Diaspora Ebola Response Conference London 29 November 2014

SLUKDERT Report on the 29th November Sierra Leone UK Diaspora Ebola Response Conference London

Executive Summary:

BACKGROUND TO THE MEETING

AIMS

OBJECTIVES:

DESIRED OUTCOMES

SLUKDERT 12 February 2015

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