Sierra Leone
Countries & Territories
In Sierra Leone, UNDP partnered with the Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) and civil society organizations (CSOs) to popularize the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) among national and local stakeholders. The two main objectives of this initiative were (1) to raise awareness and stimulate responsible business operations that respect human rights and (2) to incentivize community action to peacefully advocate for remedies for human rights abuses committed by multinational companies.
UNDP enabled the HRCSL and four CSOs to engage stakeholders at national and community levels through training, outreach and media campaigns. The HRCSL worked primarily with duty-bearers and company authorities to promote respect for UNGPs, the national policy on land and the environment, and to prevent and address sexual and gender-based violence. In parallel, the CSOs targeted rights-holders in rural communities where the businesses operate. In total, 752 people (including 313 women) participated in the trainings conducted by the HRCSL and in four gender-sensitive community forum and trainings on UNGPs delivered by CSOs.
Forum on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights organized by Humanist Watch Salone in Geima, Dama chiefdom and Panguma, Lower Bambara chiefdom, Kenema district, Sierra Leone
Leave No One Behind
The CSO-led activities targeted mainly women and youth associations, as well as traditional leaders, and resulted in increased awareness which helped change people’s perspectives on how to better relate with authorities and business representatives on issues regarding land acquisition and the operations of large-scale companies.
“The knowledge gained from this training is an eye-opener and guide for me as a local chief in this community. Investors have started engaging us to lease hilly land that is considered to have minerals. I have now acquired the knowledge and understanding on how I can, collectively work with my people, prevent the mistakes communities made before.”
– The Section Chief in Goffor, Dama Chiefdom
lessons learned
A key challenge in the implementation of the B+HR initiative in Sierra Leone was confrontation from companies’ alliances that viewed the work of the community-based CSOs, particularly that of the Community Action for Human Security (CAHSec), as inciting, especially when questions were raised through the Chiefdom multi-stakeholder platform regarding the contribution of the companies to the chiefdom development funds. This challenge was addressed through dedicated meetings the CSOs held with business representatives to present their work and reiterate their commitment to avoid inciteful messages. In addition, the officials of the companies were invited to attend the sessions to dispel any allegations of incitement.
UNDP worked with the District Human Rights Committees to improve their capacities in engaging with companies and promoting peaceful dispute resolutions between businesses and communities. According to the Joint Monitoring Mission Report of UNDP, Irish Aid and the Human Right Commission of Sierra Leone;
“the training of members of District Human Rights Committees on business and human rights has further helped enhance monitoring and reporting on human right violations in mining companies and mediation efforts by Grievance Redress Committees (GRC) or Chiefdom Multi-Stakeholders Platform (CMSP) to resolve disputes between local communities and companies.”
Public outreach activities have also contributed to the gradual change in perceptions and approaches of local authorities and business representatives. In 2022, ten interactive programmes (B+HR Hour) were aired through five radio stations in four communities reaching over 163,000 people. These programmes allowed direct interaction between community members, local authorities and business representatives.
In addition, two outreach mobile sessions to document complaints (on business operations and beyond) were held in Bumbuna and Rogbere communities with 102 participants, including 39 women. Twenty-one complaints were received. Most of them were addressed and resolved while those that do not fall under the mandate of the Human Rights Commission were referred to other agencies.
The achievements have positioned UNDP as a critical actor in promoting the business and human rights agenda in Sierra Leone. The capacity building for government and traditional authorities raised the momentum among stakeholders for enhanced engagement around the process to develop the National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights.
The HRCSL strongly relies on UNDP’s support to further engage the Ministry of Justice in the development of the NAP and to capacitate the Business and Human Rights Directorate within the HRCL.
In 2023, UNDP will support regional validation of the draft National Policy on B+HR, prioritizing the NAP development for 2024. Grassroots projects for livelihood opportunities may be considered as a follow-up support to enhance the sustainability of local women’s groups and associations and to complement legal empowerment with economic incentives.
Human Rights and SDG Integration
With the support of the UNSDG Human Rights Mainstreaming Fund, UNDP and OHCHR continued to support national partners to strengthen integration of human rights and sustainable development reporting and implementation efforts in Sierra Leone. In April of 2022, the government launched an Integrated Implementation and Reporting Strategy for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), SDGs, and the Medium-Term National Development Plan. The Strategy was developed through a highly consultative process including representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ministry of Development SDG Planning Unit, Ministry of Justice, the Judiciary, Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of Labour, the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, the Police, and the National Reporting Mechanism.
The Strategy articulates Sierra Leone’s accepted UPR recommendations, SDG commitments, as well as national development plans in a coherent framework for integrated monitoring and reporting. The Strategy also contains a dedicated UPR action plan which provides a blueprint for UPR implementation by national institutions with outcomes and indicators aligned with the various SDGs. Importantly, the Strategy positions the National Reporting Mechanism to track progress in the implementation of not only the UPR but also the SDGs and national development plans.
In 2022, progress in the implementation of key recommendations tracked by the National Reporting Mechanism was evident, including through the passing of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act.
results
- UNDP-supported HRCSL and civil society trainings increased the awareness and knowledge of national stakeholders and community members on UNGPs, land and environmental rights, and sexual and gender-based violence prevention. 752 people (including 313 women) participated in the trainings conducted by the HRCSL, and in gender-sensitive community forums and trainings delivered by CSOs. HRCSL trainings reached 149 representatives (including 32 women) of traditional authorities, managers and senior officials of companies, as well as officials of ministries, departments, agencies and local councils. 350 community members (including 158 women) benefitted from the trainings by civil society, and 210 people (including 96 women) took part in the four civil society forums on UNGPs.
- To raise awareness on business and human rights, ten interactive programmes (B+HR Hour) were aired through five radio stations in four communities reaching over 163,000 people.
- Two outreach mobile sessions to document complaints (on business operations and beyond) were held in Bumbuna and Rogbere communities – where several industrial mining companies are based - with 102 participants, including 39 women. Twenty-one complaints were received, with most of them addressed and resolved by HRCSL.
Large scale companies are (1) mineral extractive companies that mine Iron-ore, Rutile, gold etc. and employ over 500 people; (2) agricultural companies that have over 200 employees.
District Human Rights Committees are the main partners of the HRCSL for regular monitoring and reporting on human rights issues.
UNDP, Irish Aid and Human Right Commission of Sierra Leone, Joint Monitoring Mission Report, 20-24 June 2022, p. 5.