UNDP Trains Staff on Gender Mainstreaming
UNDP has completed a three day intensive training of staff on Gender Mainstreaming, Post Conflict Recovery and Development. According to the Gender Adviser of UNDP Olivia Mchaju Liwewe, the objective of the training is to build the capacity of staff on gender mainstreaming and for peace consolidation and crisis prevention within the society. She underscored the need for women’s involvement in development which she says is UNDP’s main job. Beneficiaries of the training were programme officers as well as volunteers of UNDP who expressed satisfaction at such trainings as it will give them the focus to be able to address gender related issues.
Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone Launches Maiden Newsletter
The Human Right Commission of Sierra Leone (HRC-SL) has launched the first Edition of its Newsletter on Friday February 25th2011, in the Conference Room of the Commission at Wellington Street in Freetown.
The newsletter will be produced on quarterly basis as part of the Commission’s promotional activities on human rights issues. The first edition provides information on cross-cutting themes as they relate to human rights such as health and disability.
Commissioner Edward Sam, Chairman of HRC-SL
It also included articles on the activities of the Commission including capacity building for officers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Launching the Newsletter, Chairperson of the HRC-SL, Edward Sam said that the Commission has come a long way in fulfilling its operations since 2007 as it has been producing an Annual State of Human Rights Report as required by law, established regional Offices, has forged Strategic Partnerships with stakeholders human rights institutions and has continued fostering rights base approach in governance and development. He concluded that the production of the Newsletter is another major achievement of the Commission.
ACC Orders Edmond Koroma and 3 Others to Pay 2 billion Leones
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) ordered the former Director General of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), Edmond Koroma along with three others to pay back Two Billion Leones in respect of the purchase of Two Controversial ferries which were bought about two years ago but which have not worked since. The other three people named in the press release by the ACC dated January 25th 2011, are the Former Director of Finance Gibril Saccoh, the Former Director of Investment, Mamoud Idriss and Ibrahim Bah. Although the release did not say how they arrived at the decision, it is alleged that the ACC agreed with the four men for an out of court settlement thereby removing the case out of Court. Each person is to pay Five hundred million Leones amounting to the Two Billion Leones at which it is believed the ferries were bought.
ACC Declares Pharmacy Proprietor Wanted
The Anti Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone has declared the Proprietor of Germany Pharmacy, Mr. A. Y. Bah of No. 5 Regent Road, off Mountain Cut in Freetown “wanted” in relation to a case of illegal export of timber. The ACC in a release called on the general public to report to the Commission or the nearest Police Station the whereabouts of the fugitive. The release also stated that the ACC would like the public to know that it is also investigating people who are carrying ACC Identification Cards as well as a letter of authority signed and sealed under the hand of the Commissioner for it is a crime under Section 76 of the ACC Act of 2008 to impersonate serving Officers.
Labour Minister Calls On ACC to Investigate SLTU
Hon. Hindolo Trye, Minister of Labour
The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hindolo Trye has called on the Anti Corruption Commission to investigate the executive of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU) for alleged misuse of funds. In a letter addressed to the Commissioner of the ACC, Joseph F.Kamara dated 28th February 2011; the Labour Minister questions the management of funds by the SLTU from 2010-2011 especially after the Concern Teachers too had made a formal complaint to the Minister to investigate the alleged financial misappropriation. The Minister clearly stated in his latter that his ministry does not have the mandate to investigate alleged misappropriation of funds and that is why he is calling on the ACC which is legally mandated to investigate such cases to step in and investigate the matter.
School Gender Based Violence Report Launched
A report on School Gender Based Violence has been launched at the Miatta Conference Hall in Freetown on Friday 8th April 2011.The report which highlights the causes and rate of Gender Based Violence in schools was researched by a coalition of four international NGO’s namely Plan- Sierra Leone, Concern Worldwide, IBIS and Catholic Relief Services. In her statement, the Programme Support Officer of Plan, Mariam Murray stated that violence is a major threat to the achievement of the millennium development goals noting that there have been global and national initiatives aimed at addressing violence particularly among children. She disclosed that there was a random selection of one thousand, three hundred and twelve pupils of which six hundred and forty five were girls, six hundred and sixty seven were boys and were selected from 123 primary, junior and senior secondary schools across seven districts in the country including the western area, to ensure national representation and it was based on interviews conducted with these children that they were able to come up with the report. According to the report school related rape incidents contribute to 30 percent of school gender based violence and sex for grades which is on the increase in schools is estimated to be the most common form of gender base violence in schools.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 May 2011 10:38
