By Abubakarr Harding
The United Nations (UN) Women Advisor,Soulef Guessoum, has said60% of woman in Sierra Leone experience physical and sexual violence, and 30% of young girls are married before reaching the age of 18 years.
Soulef made that statement during the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day which was12thDecember, 2022 at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.
She said it’s a pleasure for her to be part of the occasion of the Human
Rights Day of which the slogan this year is “Dignity, Freedom and Justice for All” and it is an occasion that people should take stock on what hasbeen done to protect and save the dignity of the people in Sierra Leone.
Soulef Guessoum said this year Sierra Leone has adopted a new election law thatensures more political rights for women and also passed the Gender Equality Act.
She maintained that the Act covers several areas including woman’srepresentation and participation in public office at least by 30%representation in cabinet and in parliament noting that the bill alsoprovides extension of maternity leave to 14 weeks from 12.
According to her, several adopted laws failed because their regulations were unclear or lack effective sanctions. “We need to redouble ourefforts to make the Gender Equality Act effective and properly implemented,” she stated adding that despite their joint efforts the protection of women’s rights cannot be achieved in a limited timeframe as it requires long term commitment to make the social changes needed. She said as UN women they will continue towork with partners and across the UN system to strengthen protectionfor woman and girls including human rights defenders.
On his part, Dr. Babatunde A. Ahonsi, the United Nations ResidentCoordinator in Sierra Leone, said the purpose of the celebration is to increase knowledge of the UDHR as a foundational blueprint for takingconcrete action to stand up for human rights, “ For our rights and those ofothers we all must ensure that no one is left behind in this journey,” he said.
Dr. Ahonsi, said UDHR 75 was focusing on three key objectiveseducation, which is to increasing global knowledge and awareness ofthe UDHR and its enduring relevance for our times and for the future.
The other one is promote attitude change, countering the increasingscepticism of and rollback against human rights by establishing that human rights are never relative and must always be upheld as whatunites all humanity, and third is to empower and mobilizing
“It’s equally important to ensure that Government and people embracea shared and comprehensive vision of human rights for a just andsustained development,” he said.
European Union Ambassador Manuel Muller stated that the United Nations stands forthe universality of all human rights and pubic freedom as a crucial part of a rules based world order. “Altogether, we are united Nations,” he said adding that human rights are at the heart of the European Union’s internaland external relations, said the European Union upholds and advanceshuman rights around the world.
He continued that this year the EU joins forces with the UN tocommemorate the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Humanrights and to reaffirm their commitment to ensure that human rightsare upheld and respected everywhere.
He furthered that this year’s Human rights Day is particularly importantbecause it will mark the beginning of the 75th anniversary year of thedeclaration, said almost 75 years after its proclamation, the declarationis more relevant than ever.
MamadiGobeh Kamara, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs andInternational Cooperation, applauded the UN Resident Coordinator for organizing and thecelebration of UDHR day.
She said she is pleased to be part of the programme that celebrates the adoption of the – Universal Declarationof Human Rights (UDHR).
The UDHR document guarantees the inalienable rights which everyoneis inherently entitled to as a human beingregardless of race, color,religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or socialorigin, property, birth or other status.
She said it is the most translated document in the history of the world,available in more than 500 languages.
“The very fact that this documenthas stood the test of time is a testament to the enduring universality ofits perennial values of equality, justice and human dignity. Theprinciples enshrined in the Declaration are as relevant today as theywere in 1948 when they were adopted. The Declaration was passed at atime when the world was just recovering from the horrors of theSecond World War, a time of great uncertainties, when citiesthroughout Europe and Asia lay in smouldering ruins,” she gave an historical backdrop maintaining that the world needed a glimmer of hope for a secured future.
