The Center for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) has released the third and final bulletin on ” Support CARL Covid-19 Response” project.
They released the report on Friday November 13, 2020, at its Headquarter in Circular Road, Freetown.
According to the Project Coordinator – Abu Bakarr Kallay, the “Support CARL Covid-19 Response” project financed by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) was to monitor human rights violations, do public education on COVID-19, and as well track Government’s expenditures.
He said that the production of the bulletin on the monitoring of human rights abuses during the COVID-19 period was done in three-quarters, with different circumstances.
Kallay commended the third quarter bulletin (August to October) because in it, major human rights violations weren’t reported by their monitors in the different locations.
He stressed that their monitors on human rights violations recorded in May and June, a higher level of violations than that recorded in August, September, and October.
He asserted that the massive reduction in human rights violations was a result of the engagements CARL had with the police personnel within and outside the quarantine centres. He stated that human rights abuses declined because the number of reported COVID-19 cases in the country declined significantly in August, September and October.
“Our monitors did not record any major Covid-19 related human rights violations in several districts of the country. Our findings show that, there is lack of willingness from the general public to comply with Covid-19 preventive regulations, particularly the use of masks and social distancing.” He continued that there had been allegations of excessive use of force by security personnel in the enforcement of covid-19 related regulations in the Western Area district. Kallay commented that there were alleged brutalities from security personnel against citizens in enforcing the use of masks in public places and the social distancing guidelines. “There are adequate supplies of food and other basic amenities in isolation and quarantine homes across the country,” he said.
He pledged to the public to continue adhering to the COVID-19 preventive measures, particularly the use of face masks in public places and practice social distancing at all times and also called on the Government, MoF, and NaCOVERC to pay the risk allowances of the frontline workers because it would keep them motivated. He went on to admonish security personnel on the need to exercise flexibility when enforcing the COVID-19 regulations.
He also requested for the improvement of quarantine homes and treatment centres by the Government and equally provides drugs and other supplies for non-COVID diseases in all public hospitals in the country.
Kallay closed by thanking OSIWA for the support and called on the Government, Ministry of Finance, and NaCOVERC to embrace the recommendations proffered by the Centre, so that,COVID-19 would be defeated in the country.
By Ibrahim S. Bangura and Fayia Jnr. Moseray
17/11/2020. ISSUE NO: 7952