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CSOs Trained In Enhancing Effective UPR Participation By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay The Civil Society Oraganisation United Nations Periodic Review Monitoring Group – Sierra Leone (CUMG-SL) has concluded a day training of trainers in ‘Enhancing Effective Sierra Leone CSOs’ Participation in the UPR second cycle and shadow reporting processes,” The seminar which took place on the 8th May this year at the Presidential Lounge, National Stadium Freetown saw CSOs’ government and Non-Governmental Organisation under one humbler to chat the way forward According to the Chairman of CUMG-SL Edward Emmanuel UPR is a United Nations process that includes a review of the human rights records of all states once every four years. It provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries. Sierra Leone he said was reviewed under the UPR in 2011, and the Government accepted 126 out of 129 recommendations included in the final report. The second cycle of the UPR for Sierra Leone Mr. Emmanuel said is scheduled for January 2016, when the Government of Sierra Leone will have to account on the measures taken to implement all the recommendations accepted. He said among the recommendation accepted the Government indicated that 57 were already implemented or were under implementation, 54 were accepted and 15 were accepted subject to the constitutional review process. Outlining the objective of the seminar the Chairman of CUMG-SL Edward Emmanuel said he wants to introduce the background and principles guiding the UPR process, “Resolution: National Mid-term Review conference on the Status of Implementation of UPR recommendations.” Another part of the objective is for the government of Sierra Leone, International Community and the Human Rights Commission to update the Media, CSOs and DPOs on the status of the UPR process since Geneva 2011 relating to the recommendations accepted and those rejected. He said also to introduce CSOs and DPOs in the operations of the UN Human Rights protection and promotion systems and how to effectively engage these systems. He pointed out that there is a need to build the capacity of CSOs and DPOs for effective engagement in the UPR process leading to the second cycle review in 2016 including disseminating information in the recommendation and preparation of stakeholders report writing for the second cycle review in 2016. Terrence Williams Political Officer of the British High Commission Freetown said the British High Commission thanks CUMG-SL for their work in keeping Sierra Leone’s UPR commitments in the spotlight. He said UK is a strong supporter of the UPR process and it is important that countries meet their commitments. “This is particularly true of Sierra Leone as the constitutional review is taking place and looking at many areas to which Government of Sierra Leone has committed to review human rights practices,” he said. He went on to say the constitutional review process can be an important tool for modernizing human rights in Sierra Leone. In her statement on behalf of the Head of Mission of Irish Aid, Grace Harman Gender and Governance Advisor said human rights are a critical area for attention in all countries, including Sierra Leone. “There is perhaps a danger, after a conflict is over, that the focus shifts from human rights issues to ‘development’ issues.” She said in their view these two cannot be separated and constant attention is needed to human rights issues, even in a peaceful post-conflict era as currently find in Sierra Leone. “In fact, as I think everybody in this room will be aware, the lack of attention to human rights in peace time was one of the key drivers of the conflict in Sierra Leone,” she stated. She went on to say this is a particularly good time for them to be talking about Ireland, Sierra Leone and the UPR. According to her Ireland and Sierra Leone currently sit together on the Human rights Council of the United Nations. “It is also a good time since Sierra Leone has been upgraded twice in the past year within Ireland’s system: firstly, Sierra Leone became one of eight global priority countries for Irish Aid in May of last year, and January of this year, Ireland announced the opening of a full Embassy in Freetown,” she said. Sierra Leone Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation representative Duwai Lungay said they have well over 20 Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) that they are working on the 126 recommendation. He stressed that as a Ministry they have meetings for the Ministry to take the lead to move the UPR process forward. “At the conclusion of the meeting, we agreed that certain action were to be taken. One of which is the setting up of the National Coordinating Group, appoint focal point with the MDAs and to strengthen the Human Rights Secretarial.” Mr. Lungay went on to say adequate financial support is needed. He added that he is sure that if adequate financial provision is available there will be a focal point to educate and sanitize people about the UPR among other activities.