by Alice Derbyshire Olu-Jones | Feb 29, 2024 | Press
The ECOWAS Regional Conference will take place in Freetown on April 17-18, 2024, bringing together senior government officials from member states, heads of multilateral and regional institutions, leading civil society organizations, and field experts to discuss the need for a binding agreement on the use and regulation of autonomous weapons.
Learn more: https://www.awsfreetown.com/en-us/participants
Read/download full press release below
by dyte | Nov 14, 2023 | Press
Thanks to funding from the UNDP, the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) and the Justice Sector Coordination Office (JSCO) are currently organizing a two-day workshop with Members of Parliament, including Members of the Legislative Committee, on the draft Criminal Procedure Act.
The objective is to introduce Members of Parliament to the draft Criminal Procedure bill and offer them a chance to ask questions and make recommendations for strengthening the text of the law before it is officially introduced in Parliament. The event is taking place at the Sierra Palm Resort, Freetown.
If passed into law, the revised Criminal Procedure Act will make the criminal justice system fairer and more accessible, as well as respond to the justice needs of all.
#CARL
by dyte | Nov 9, 2023 | Press
A two-day training session for newly elected youth councillors and women in political party leadership positions across 6 districts is underway at the Makeni City Council. The training, organized by the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law as part of the recently launched USAID-funded BASE project, seeks to empower councillors and female leaders with the tools to drive change, improve service delivery and mobilize stakeholders at the lowest unit of governance – wards. Over the next couple of days, the participants will be introduced to theories and benefits of growth mindset, effective service delivery, and stakeholder management. The BASE consortium, which includes IGR, CARL, BAN, 50/50, CARE, and IRN is implementing a 3-year project that seeks to promote citizens’ participation, accountability and improved service delivery in local government. #CARL-SL
by ibakarr | Apr 11, 2023 | Press
The Center for Accountability and
Rule of Law (CARL-SL) is appalled by news of the assassination of the Regional
Coordinator of the Operational Support Division for the North-East, ASP Mathew
Moiwah Gbanya. It is reported that ASP Gbanya was shot to death on the night of
Saturday 8th April, 2023 in Makeni, Sierra Leone.
“It sad on so many levels”, said
Ibrahim Tommy, Executive Director, Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law,
adding that “it represents a huge setback in our collective efforts to
strengthen trust between citizens and law enforcement agencies”.
CARL strongly condemns this violent attack on a law enforcement officer and urges the leadership of the Sierra Leone Police to work collaboratively with the intelligence community to investigate this terrible tragedy with the view to bringing the perpetrator(s) to justice. No one deserves to be killed unlawfully or unjustifiably. Every well-meaning person in Sierra Leone must be concerned about this, and should accordingly support ongoing efforts to ensure accountability for this heinous attack.
As we fast approach the 2023 elections, we urge Sierra Leoneans, especially political leaders and their supporters, to tone down the angry political rhetoric. Elections are simply about making choices, and political actors have a responsibility to make the process peaceful, inclusive, and participatory.
May the soul of the fallen officer
rest in peace.
#The End#
Download pdf press release here
by ibakarr | Apr 10, 2023 | Press
Press statement
PRESS STATEMENT ONE MONTH BEFORE THE ECOWAS COURT HANDS DOWN A JUDGMENT IN THE EBOLA CASE, SURVIVORS HIGHLIGHT GOVERNMENT’S LACK OF COMMITMENT TO THEIR JUSTICE NEEDS.
Freetown, 10th April, 2023: The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) and its co-plaintiffs wish to remind the general public that the ECOWAS Court of Justice will on 10th May, 2023 deliver a judgement in the case filed against the Government of Sierra Leone in respect of the mismanagement of Ebola response funds.
The public would recall from previous media engagements by CARL and other interested stakeholders, including the Sierra Leone Association of Ebola Survivors (SLAES), that strong efforts have been made in the last 5 years to resolve the matter through a negotiated settlement. Those efforts were initiated after The New Direction Government Transition Team (GTT) report recommended an urgent out- of-court settlement of the matter.
As a result of the Government of Sierra Leone’s clear lack of firm commitment to a comprehensive out-of-court settlement, even after meeting with CARL, SLAES, and other stakeholders at Lakka, Freetown in August 2021, the ECOWAS Court of Justice was left with no option but to order that the matter be heard and determined on its merit. Accordingly, the matter was heard on 13th February, 2023 and judgment was reserved for 10th May, 2023.
As frustrating as it is, we remain committed to a just and fair resolution of this matter because it involves the lives and welfare of vulnerable, long-suffering Sierra Leoneans. For this reason, we have continued to draw public attention to our various efforts and how the Government of Sierra Leone has responded to this action since it was instituted in 2017.
As we await the decision of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, CARL and its partners want the Government of Sierra Leone to recognise that Ebola survivors have suffered too much already and are vulnerable Sierra Leoneans. We firmly believe that, irrespective of the nature of the ECOWAS Court decision scheduled for 10th May, 2023, and conscious of the forthcoming elections, the Government of Sierra Leone should make a firm commitment to support all Ebola survivors to regain their health and dignity as well as opportunities for education, skills training and restoration of livelihoods.
“I am very disappointed that successive governments have chosen to ignore and neglect we the Ebola survivors as if we were responsible for the calamity that befell us”, said an Ebola Survivor, after the hearing before the ECOWAS Court of Justice hearing on 13th February, 2023.
CARL, SLAES, and all their partners are still open to discussion and willing to settle the matter should the Government of Sierra Leone choose to engage before the Court hands down a decision on 10th May 2023.
#THE END#
Read pdf of press release here
