The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) has in a statement which it put out on Friday August 28, 2020 vehemently condemned hate messages, diatribes and persons who make, promote and propagate such messages, and also called on certain persons who have recently made such unpatriotic utterances on Social Media practices to desist forthwith.
In press statement the Commission went on to informed the public that it had been monitoring different social media platforms which had recently been flooded with hate messages and diatribes from Sierra Leoneans both within and outside the country. It emphasized that such messages have the tendency of inciting civil and political unrest and, “ultimately bringing the State to a standstill.”
The HRCSL has been one of the foremost defenders of free speech as it has consistently called on successive governments through its Annual State of Human Right Reports, strategic and media engagements to repeal the criminal and seditious libel law contained in the Public Order Act of 1965- a call that has now been recently adhered to by government. The Commission asserted that it abhors messages of hate and division which it views to be at variance with the guarantee and object of free speech envisaged by the recent repeal of the Criminal Libel Law , and added that such statements do not constitute the spirit and intendment contained in section 25 subsection (1) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article19 (1) & (2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Accordingly, Article 20 (1) & (2) of the ICCPR clearly prohibits propaganda that promotes war and any advocacy that promotes violence. Similarly, Subsection (2) of Section 25 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991 provides for exemptions in respect of freedom of expression where the circumstance has to do with security of the state, public safety, public order, morality and health; and for the purpose of protecting the reputations, rights and freedoms of other persons, etc.
Through the statement HRCSL reminded the Government of Sierra Leone of its responsibility to provide security for its citizens and everyone staying in the country pursuant to section 5 (2) (b) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991, as its primary obligation.
It urged the Government and its relevant agencies to ensure that the security of the State and its people is safeguarded at all times within the confines of the laws of the land and international covenants and protocols to which Sierra Leone is a State Party.
In a similar vein, the HRCSL through their statement once again called on citizens to abide by the provision contained in Section 13 of the Constitution which provided mandatory Duties of the Citizen which includes but not limited to: “a sense of nationalism and patriotism so that loyalty to the State shall override sectional, ethical, tribal or other loyalties; protect and preserve public property…; ensure the proper control and upbringing of his children and wards; and render assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order.”
Additionally, HRCSL drew the attention of everyone to the provisions contained in Article 29 (3) & (4) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) thus: (3) “Not to compromise the security of the State whose national or resident he is;” and (4) “to preserve and strengthen social and national solidarity, particularly when the latter is threatened.”
HRCSL in conclusion reiterated its call to every citizen to desist from producing and promoting all forms of hate messages and diatribes, and to be law abiding, disciplined and also to participate in and defend all democratic processes and practices responsibly and according to the law.
By Isabella Cassell
31/08/2020. ISSUE NO: 7898