HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CONDEMNS ONGOING ABUSES IN SIERRA LEONE

HR/99/32
29 April 1999



Mary Robinson Plans to Visit Freetown in June


High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson has been following with deep distress successive reports of grave violations and abuses of human rights and humanitarian law, particularly by rebel forces, in Sierra Leone. The High Commissioner has condemned such atrocities in the strongest possible terms.

The Commission on Human Rights, meeting currently, has appealed to all factions and forces in Sierra Leone to respect human rights and abide by applicable international humanitarian law. The Commission specifically reminded all forces and factions in Sierra Leone "that in any armed conflict, including an armed conflict not of an international character, the taking of hostages, willful killing and torture or inhumane treatment of persons taking no active part in the hostilities constitute grave breaches of international humanitarian law, and that all countries are under the obligation to search for persons alleged to have committed, or to have ordered to be committed, such grave breaches and to bring such persons, regardless of their nationality, before their own courts."

The High Commissioner is in contact with the Sierra Leone Government and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Francis Okelo, about the evolving situation. She expresses her strong support for the ongoing peace process in Lomé, calls for respect by all parties for human rights and international humanitarian law and expresses her strong hope that the parties will redouble their efforts to arrive at an agreement to end the conflict and to lay the foundations for peace and sustainable respect for human rights. The High Commissioner also welcomes recent statements of commitment to respect international humanitarian law.


The High Commissioner has accepted an invitation by the Government of Sierra Leone to visit Freetown in the near future. She plans to do so in June and will, for this purpose, draw on the advice and assistance of a panel of eminent African and international personalities.