Country detail - yourHRC.org

Sierra Leone

Regional group:

African Group (AG)

Council member:

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Council Bureau membership:	–
Coordinator of regional group:	–
Voluntary financial contribution to OHCHR (2024) :

Other HRC positions:	–
OHCHR presence:	– No field presence
NHRI accreditation status:	A

National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRF): Unknown

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

The promotion and protection of human rights and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; Child, early and forced marriage in humanitarian settings; Civil society space; Strengthening efforts to prevent and eliminate child, early and forced marriage; Protection of the family; The role of freedom of opinion and expression in women’s empowerment; Consequences of child, early and forced marriage; Civil society space: COVID-19: the road to recovery and the essential role of civil society.

Voting record

Since it first became a member of the Council in 2013, Sierra Leone has (in the absence of consensus) voted in favour of nearly all item 4 resolutions (situations that require the Council’s attention). Notwithstanding, it abstained during votes on resolutions on the situations in Belarus (2013), and Iran (2014, 2015). Sierra Leone also voted in favour of item 2 resolutions on the situation in Sri Lanka. For item 7 resolutions (human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories), Sierra Leone has nearly always voted in favour. On item 10 resolutions (capacity-building), Sierra Leone has joined consensus on all resolutions except for two that were voted on during the period of its membership: on cooperation with Ukraine (Sierra Leone voted in favour both times). For thematic resolutions dealing with civil and political rights, Sierra Leone has generally joined consensus. Where there has been a vote, it has nearly always voted in favour. Notwithstanding, Sierra Leone abstained during a 2013 vote on a decision on the question of the death penalty, and a 2014 vote on a resolution on sexual orientation. For thematic resolutions dealing with economic, social and cultural rights, Sierra Leone has either joined consensus on, or has voted in favour of, all adopted texts.

HRC participation

During HRC general discussions, panel debates and interactive dialogues with the Special Procedures, during the past three years, either as an HRC member or not, the State has joined:

262

Regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 78

Subregional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 50

118

Political group
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 109

111

Cross-regional
group statements

Average of statements for all countries: 96

Other joint
statements

Average of statements for all countries: 5

HRC member empty chair?

Overall, as a HRC member, has participated in more than 10% of panel discussions, general debates and interactive dialogues.

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Completed
Invitation sent by the State not (yet) accepted by the SP
Accepted / date set
Visit request by the SP and not (yet) accepted by the State
Postponed / cancelled

Longest visit request not (yet) accepted by the State >
SR on water and sanitation, 2017

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Ratification status
Party Not Party
Individual complaint procedure accepted.
Reporting status

Submitted on time
Submitted late
Not applicable

On schedule
Overdue (outstanding)

CAT

ICCPR

CED

CEDAW

CERD

ICESCR

CRC

CRPD

Most overdue report

CERD
18 Years

OP-CAT

Ratified

NPM established

Universal Periodic Review

Reported

(2011, 2016/2021)

Mid-term report

2nd cycle

Level of delegation

Minister

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 0 / 192

2^nd cycle: 117 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Cited in the Secretary General’s reports on 'alleged reprisals for cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights' (2010-2024)?

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 9

Sierra Leone tabled voluntary pledges and commitments in support of its candidacy for membership for the period 2013-2015 on 19 October 2012.

Internationally, Sierra Leone pledged to: support the mainstreaming of human rights; extend a Standing Invitation to all Special Procedures; engage constructively in all Council deliberations; cooperate with the Council’s mechanisms; fulfil its obligations under the human rights Treaties, including its reporting obligations; implement accepted UPR recommendations; and engage with NGOs at the Council.

At national level, Sierra Leone pledged to: institutionalise a national human rights action plan; enact legislation to provide for a 30% quota for female representation in government; implement healthcare initiatives; review its justice system; and cooperate with domestic NGOs and the NHRI.

An analysis of steps taken by Sierra Leone in fulfilment of its international level pledges shows that, in terms of engagement in Council deliberations, it has participated in around half of panel discussions, and around a third of interactive dialogues and general debates. Regarding cooperation with Special Procedures, Sierra Leone maintains a Standing Invitation and has facilitated more than half of visits requests. It has only responded to less than 30% of communications received. Sierra Leone made no recommendations to any state in the First UPR Cycle. In terms of the human rights treaties, Sierra Leone is Party to most core conventions. Some of its periodic reports are, however, very overdue (e.g. ICESCR).

Sierra Leone

African Group (AG)

Engagement with the HRC

Principal sponsorship of HRC resolutions

Voting record

HRC participation

HRC member empty chair?

Cooperation with international human rights system

Special Procedures

Standing invitation

Communications responded to / received

Visits requests status

Treaty Bodies

Ratified

Reporting Status

Universal Periodic Review

Participation in other reviews 1st cycle: 0 / 192

2nd cycle: 117 / 192

Cooperation with the UN, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights

Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments

Specific voluntary pledges: 9

Participation in other reviews
1^st cycle: 0 / 192

2^nd cycle: 117 / 192