By: Aaron Bundu Lahai
The Honorable Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has on Monday 26 February, 2023 called on Sierra Leoneans to promote national cohesion. He made the remarks while giving the keynote address at the Legacy Conference organized by the Special Court for Sierra Leone at the Bintumani International Conference Center, Aberdeen in Freetown.
He emphasized on the need for Sierra Leoneans to promote national cohesion and do more in the delivery of justice, protect human rights, and build a human rights culture, adding that Sierra Leone as a country has come a long way and have more way to go. He encouraged Sierra Leoneans to rise above partisan divide, and build a share commitment that promote national cohesion, and address the deep-seated causes of social justice. “Peace is the cornerstone for a stable democratic delivery” he reechoed.
The Hon Vice President Dr Jalloh called for the renewal of commitment for justice and accountability in order to build a better future for Sierra Leone where peace and justice will prevail, human rights protected with peace and dignity. He announced Government’s intention to transform the Special Court site into the justice sector complex. He said that the complex will serve as a one stop justice center that will be equipped to host all justice sector institutions including the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL), Office of the Ombudsman, Law Reform Commission among others.
He described the Special Court for Sierra Leone as a remarkable institution that has a played a pivotal role towards justice and peace in Sierra Leone. Therefore, the ceremony to commemorate the contribution of the court was a significant milestone in the history of Sierra Leone. He stated that Special Court operated on a clear mandate to prosecute those who bore the greatest responsibilities in war crimes against humanities, and other serious violations of International Humanitarian Laws in Sierra Leone from December 1996 to 2002.
He explained that the establishment of the Special Court was a testament of the glaring commitment of upholding the rule of law, by ensuring that those responsible for the most egregious crimes against humanity face justice. Hon Dr Jalloh maintained that the judgement rendered by the Special Court sent a resounding message that impunity will not be tolerated in Sierra Leone.
Vice President Dr Jalloh noted that it is imperative to acknowledge the integral role played by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Sierra Leone (TRC) when commemorating the significant anniversary of the Special Court. He said the TRC made sound recommendations leading to the establishment of vital institutions that continued to strengthen the country’s democracy, promote good governance and accountability, and protect human rights. He named the Anti-Corruption Commission as one of the institutions recommended by the TRC which today’s plays a pivotal role in combating corrupting by investigating and prosecuting corruption cases.
The Honorable Vice President informed about Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthen the country’s domestic judicial system to effectively handled human rights and other serious crimes. He stressed that the Government of Sierra Leone will continue to provide specialized training for Judges, Prosecutors, and Investigators. He disclosed plans by Government to provide the needed education to the public on Sierra Leone’s journey from war to peace, by upholding the rule of law and the principle of cohesion.
The Hon Vice President profusely thanked the development partners especially the United Nations for their unwavering support towards justice and accountability. The two days Legacy conference to raise awareness of the contributions of the Special Court for Sierra Leone to international justice, peace and security is slated for the 26-27 February 2024.
