Child rights in Sierra Leone - Home page | UNICEF

1 CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF THE CONVENTION ON THE rights OF THE Child 29 Sierra Leone has experienced steadyimprovement in security and politicalstability since a decade of armed con-flict ended in 2002. Peaceful nationaldemocratic elections were held in 2007,and efforts to strengthen governmentinstitutions and promote reconciliationare being pursued. Economic growthreturned during the post-conflict period,averaging about per cent per yearbetween 2003 and 2007, driven mostly bythe agriculture and mining sectors. Sierra Leone ratified the Convention onthe rights of the Child in June 1990 andits two Optional Protocols in September2001 (on the Sale of Children, ChildProstitution and Child Pornography) and May 2002 (on the Involvement ofChildren in Armed Conflict).

2 These com-mitments were subsequently enshrinedin national legislation through the 2007 Child rights Act which supersedes allother national laws and is consideredcompatible with the Convention and theAfrican Charter on the rights andWelfare of the children while restoring securityThe Child rights Act forms the basis of astronger framework for protecting childrights. However, the road to its imple-mentation is long. The country still lagsin economic, social and human develop-ment. Although richly endowed with min-eral resources, Sierra Leone ranked atthe bottom of 177 countries and territo-ries in the United Nations DevelopmentProgramme s most recent HumanDevelopment Index.

3 It has been stronglyaffected by the 2008-2009 global eco-nomic downturn, which has curtailedfinancial flows to the country from trade,investment, remittances and aid. SierraLeone has also been listed by the Foodand Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations as one of the countriesmost vulnerable to food country s maternal and under-fivemortality rates are the highest in theworld, and nearly 40 per cent of chil-dren under five suffer from moderate orsevere stunting. Basic and maternalhealth facilities and services and envi-ronmental health infrastructure are inshort supply.

4 One third of infants do notreceive routine immunization in the formof three doses of diphtheria, pertussisand tetanus toxoid vaccine. Nearly 60per cent of women deliver without theassistance of a skilled health half of Sierra Leoneans have no access to improved drinking-waterfacilities, and roughly 7 in every 10 citizens are without adequate sanitationfacilities. More than 30 per cent of children of primary-school-age are not enrolled in school, and there aremoderate transition rates from primaryschool to secondary and tertiary educa-tion. Barriers to girls education includechild marriage 62 per cent of girlsmarry before age 18, and 27 per centbefore age 15 and high levels of adolescent pregnancy.

5 During the past two decades, SierraLeone has faced obstacles in promotingand protecting the rights of its , poverty, gender inequities anddiscriminatory cultural practices com-bine to undermine Child rights . Despitethe return of democracy and greaterpolitical stability in Sierra Leone , girlsand women are still exposed to sexualviolence, along with harmful traditionalpractices such as female genital mutila-tion/cutting. More than 90 per cent ofwomen aged 15 49 are estimated tohave undergone FGM/C. During the decade-long civil conflict,children were recruited by both govern-ment and rebel forces.

6 The Special Courtfor Sierra Leone , set up to try thoseresponsible for the most serious viola-tions of human rights , convicted all ninedefendants including former presidentCharles Taylor of recruiting children tofight as combatants. Three defendantshave been convicted of forcing marriageon girls and women, marking the firsttime that a court has upheld such acharge. Sierra Leone is making strides toincrease children s participation. TheTruth and Reconciliation Commission forSierra Leone , established to create animpartial documentation of human rightsviolations, has involved children in theprocess and given special attention tothe experiences of children affected bythe civil strife.

7 In the same spirit, in 2001the Government of Sierra Leone formedthe Children s Forum Network, a Child -to- Child advocacy organization committedto creating linkages and spreadingknowledge on Child rights and responsi-bilities. The Children s Forum Network iscurrently working in all of Sierra Leone s13 districts. Challenges aheadTo make meaningful advances on Child survival and development, theGovernment of Sierra Leone , in partner-ship with other stakeholders, faces thechallenge of scaling up such essentialservices as immunization, micronutrientsupplementation, maternal, newborn and Child health care, quality educationand environmental health facilities, and developing a national Child protec-tion system.

8 These advances requirecontinued stability and peace, and anenvironment supportive of the rights ofwomen and children. Establishing andmaintaining political stability and secu-rity throughout the West and CentralAfrica region will therefore be critical torealizing the rights of children in SierraLeone and its neighbours during theyears References, pages 90 92. Child rights in Sierra Leone THE TIMELESS RELEVANCE OF THE CONVENTION