The TRC of Sierra Leone was established in 2000 to “create an impartial historical record of violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law related to the armed conflict in Sierra Leone, from the beginning of the Conflict in 1991 to the signing of the Lomé Peace Agreement; to address impunity, to respond to the needs of the victims, to promote healing and reconciliation and to prevent a repetition of the violations and abuses suffered.”  Based on its findings, the TRC produced a final report with recommendations.  To date, the Government of Sierra Leone has yet to implement these recommendations, many of which are marked as imperative. 

In August 2004, the Law Reform Commission of Sierra Leone issued a public call for proposals to amend selected chapters of the constitution.  Many of these sections, particularly Chapter III’s “The Recognition and Protection of Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms of the Individual,” directly relate to the recommendations in the TRC Final Report.  Minnesota Advocates urges the Law Reform Commission to take the proposal into account as it begins its review of the Constitution.  

To view the submission to the Law Reform Commission, please click below.

 TRC Recommendations that Warrant Change to the 1991 Sierra Leone Constitution  
As submitted by Conflict Management and Development Associates, International Center for Transitional Justice, Jamesina King, Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, Sierra Leone Court Monitoring Programme, WITNESS
 Letter to Allan Baami Halloway, Secretary of the Law Reform Commission