Sierra Leone

The Sierra Leone National Reporting Mechanism to International Treaty Bodies (NMIRF) is the institutional body responsible for liaising with UN human rights mechanisms. It is hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as the Lead Agency.

INSTITUTIONAL SETUP

The national mechanism hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as the Lead Agency, supported by an Inter-Ministerial Committee with focal points from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), a National Strategic Board, Working Groups, and a Drafting Team. The mechanism was established through a policy mandate.

Secretariat

The NMIRF has a permanent secretariat to coordinate report drafting, responses, and follow-up on recommendations, with focal points formally nominated by their respective Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

New members receive ad hoc training with support from bilateral partners.

NMIRF members and focal points do have formal Standard Operating Procedures or internal guidelines to coordinate their work, hard copy exists.

MANDATE

The NMIRF engages with all major human rights mechanisms in reporting to UN Human Rights Mechanisms (Treaty Bodies, UPR), reporting to Regional Human Rights Mechanisms and following up on recommendations from human rights mechanisms (Special Procedures, Treaty Bodies, UPR).

The national engages with UN and regional human rights mechanisms.

Process for the preparation of state reports

Meetings are mainly held in relation to reporting periods, with participation from relevant Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Some reports are prepared directly by specific MDAs; reports coordinated by the NMIRF are drafted by committees or working groups. The Secretariat coordinates data collection from relevant MDAs.

For the Universal Periodic Review, National Implementation Plans and Matrices are used, supported by consultants or Technical Assistants, to gather, analyze, and validate data.

This system ensures timely submission of reports.

COORDINATION

Sierra Leone has developed a National Implementation Strategy, along with a National Implementation Plan and Reporting Matrix, to coordinate human rights reporting and follow-up.

It coordinates with focal points under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Gender Equality Mechanisms.

Linkages with the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals

The NMIRF’s work is coordinated with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) to align with the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A Focal Person on the Inter-Ministerial Committee collaborates closely with the Drafting Team to provide data for reports.

Channel of communication with the National Statistics Office

The NMIRF has a focal person on the Inter-Ministerial Committee and the focal person from the Statistics Office works closely with the Drafting Team in putting reports together.

Channels of communication with Parliament and the Judiciary

The NMIRF works with the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, and all completed reports are formally adopted by Parliament before submission to Treaty Bodies or other human rights mechanisms. The Judiciary has a Focal Person in the Inter-Ministerial Committee and leads in presenting some reports, supporting engagement with international human rights mechanisms.

CONSULTATION

The Secretariat has always worked with state and non-state actors in various phases of the drafting process in the context of workshops and related engagements.

Tools used include the National Implementation Plan, Reporting Matrix, and National Implementation Strategy, particularly for UPR reporting.

Sierra Leone has rolled out the National Recommendations Tracking Database.