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The role of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone in promoting and protecting the right to freedom of expression and assembly
Mini Dissertation (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa))--University of Pretoria, 2025.
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| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613707656232960 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Fombad, Charles Manga |
| author_browse | Fombad, Charles Manga |
| author_facet | Fombad, Charles Manga |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Mini Dissertation (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa))--University of Pretoria, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/106995 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:40:25.890Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/106995 The role of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone in promoting and protecting the right to freedom of expression and assembly Fombad, Charles Manga mamoudbah94@gmail.com Jegede, Ademola Oluborode Bah, Mamoud UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Freedom of expression Freedom of assembly National Human Rights Institutions Operational autonomy Pluralism Mini Dissertation (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa))--University of Pretoria, 2025. This study presents an evaluation of the institutional effectiveness of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) in promoting and protecting the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly in post-conflict Sierra Leone. The study assesses the HRCSL’s strategies, successes, and the systemic political and structural hurdles hindering its mandate. The analysis herein reveals that while the HRCSL has a strong legal and normative framework which adheres to the Paris Principles, and has recorded a notable promotional victory- the repeal of criminal libel laws - its protective power is consistently undermined by systemic constraints. Constraints such as pervasive financial dependency on the government, which weakens operational autonomy, and a deep-seated failure by the government to comply with its recommendations, perpetuates an endemic culture of impunity among state actors, particularly the police. Also, these civil liberties still face restriction due to the arbitrary application of an archaic Public Order law concerning the right to assembly, and the promulgation of a new Cybersecurity and Crime Act of 2022 which can be used to stifle dissent and free speech. The study concludes that the HRCSL is more effective in advocating against and documenting human rights abuses rather than compelling compliance with its recommendations. Therefore, in order for the HRCSL to achieve its protective mandate and reinforce its role, it has to seriously pursue operational and financial autonomy. Importantly, it must be determined to use its quasi-judicial power to compel accountability and establish the legal enforceability of its decisions within Sierra Leone’s governance architecture. Centre for Human Rights Centre for Human Rights LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa) Unrestricted Faculty of Laws SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutions 2025-11-28T12:04:05Z 2025-11-28T12:04:05Z 2025-12-10 2025 Mini Dissertation * D2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/106995 Disclaimer Letter en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Freedom of expression Freedom of assembly National Human Rights Institutions Operational autonomy Pluralism The role of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone in promoting and protecting the right to freedom of expression and assembly |
| title | The role of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone in promoting and protecting the right to freedom of expression and assembly |
| title_full | The role of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone in promoting and protecting the right to freedom of expression and assembly |
| title_fullStr | The role of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone in promoting and protecting the right to freedom of expression and assembly |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone in promoting and protecting the right to freedom of expression and assembly |
| title_short | The role of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone in promoting and protecting the right to freedom of expression and assembly |
| title_sort | role of the human rights commission of sierra leone in promoting and protecting the right to freedom of expression and assembly |
| topic | UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Freedom of expression Freedom of assembly National Human Rights Institutions Operational autonomy Pluralism |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/106995 |