By Alvin Lansana Kargbo
Amnesty International Sierra Leone has intensified its human rights education campaign with a school engagement held at Limount College Secondary School and the Sierra Leone Grammar School on October 6th and 7th, 2025 respectively. The initiative forms part of the organization’s nationwide effort to raise awareness among young people about their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
According to Amnesty International Sierra Leone’s Gender and Disability Officer, Christiana Mary Fabai, the purpose of the engagement is to nurture a generation that understands not only its rights but also its civic duties. She said many young people today focus on demanding their rights but often neglect the responsibilities that accompany them, something Amnesty hopes to change through sustained school outreach.
“Pupils spend most of their time in school and that makes it the ideal environment to build awareness about human rights and responsible citizenship,” Christiana Mary Fabai explained. “If children are not guided now on essential principles, the consequences could become evident within the next four to five years.”
Christiana Mary Fabai highlighted that Amnesty International was founded in 1961 by British lawyer and human rights activist, Peter Benenson and that the Sierra Leone section established in 1982 has since grown into a major player in promoting human rights education. With a membership of about 10 million people across more than 150 countries, the movement’s vision is for everyone to enjoy the 30 fundamental rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including the rights to life, movement, education and freedom of association.
She explained that Amnesty’s mission is not only to protect victims of abuse but also to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. In Sierra Leone, the organization has already reached more than 25 schools, universities and community groups as part of its education campaign.
Christiana Mary Fabai also cautioned pupils against drug abuse, particularly the growing use of Kush, which she described as one of the most destructive habits among young people today. She said substance abuse violates one’s right to health, dignity and can derail education, family life and community well-being. “Drugs like Kush are destroying the future of many young people,” she warned. “Understanding your rights also means understanding the responsibility to protect your own body and mind.”
At both schools, Abu Bakarr Maurice Keita from Amnesty International linked climate change to human rights, noting that the effects of flooding and food insecurity are depriving people of basic rights such as life, adequate shelter and food. He stressed that climate change is not just an environmental problem but a justice issue that demands accountability from both Governments and corporations.
“Climate change is driven by human activities,” Abu Bakarr Maurice Keita said. “When homes are destroyed or food becomes scarce because of corporate pollution or weak regulation, that’s a violation of human rights. Both the state and big companies must act responsibly to protect the people.”
The discussion also addressed issues of bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive rights. Rachel Kargbo and Istau Doris Conteh of Amnesty International emphasized that every woman has the right to make independent decisions regarding her body. They highlighted that women must be free to choose whether to become pregnant or have children without coercion or external pressure underscoring that bodily integrity is a core element of dignity and equality.
The pupils engaged actively in the sessions. Amarachi Oparah, a pupil of Limount College, said the discussion on girls’ rights was particularly empowering. “Amnesty came to speak mainly about girls and women, why we must protect our bodies and understand our worth. Hearing it in school makes a bigger impact,” she said. “My message to other girls is: always protect yourself, keep your values and never allow anyone to take advantage of you.”
Mark Andrew Jusu, the Deputy Head Boy of the Sierra Leone Grammar School, also described the session as eye-opening, particularly on issues like rape and abuse that many young people fail to recognize as serious. He urged equal protection for both genders, stressing that boys can also be victims of abuse.
“The talk helped reveal problems that often go unnoticed,” he said. “I plan to take what I’ve learned and share it with other students, class by class, so we can all be more aware and supportive of one another.”
Amnesty International Sierra Leone said the school engagement forms part of its broader mission to strengthen human rights awareness and build a culture of accountability from the classroom level upward. By teaching pupils that rights and responsibilities go hand in hand, the organization hopes to inspire a new generation of informed, just and socially conscious citizens.
The engagement will continue next week in schools across the Eastern part of Freetown, as Amnesty International expands its outreach to reach more pupils with vital lessons on rights, drug abuse prevention, climate justice and responsible citizenship.
