Welcome to the United Nations 
OHCHR 
Press releases
Default title
26 May 2000
Share
UNAMSIL
26 May 2000
Human rights situation in Sierra Leone
UNAMSIL is concerned about abuses of human rights taking place during the current period of hostilities and is calling on all sides to respect international human rights and humanitarian law. UNAMSIL has documented human rights violations against both civilians and prisoners. Fear of gross human rights violations has caused thousands of civilians to flee RUF forces. The RUF continues to hold thousands of persons abducted in previous years; many are now child soldiers and forcibly recruited civilians in its ranks. Children are also to be found among government-allied forces. The continued detention of UNAMSIL peacekeepers by the RUF is a serious concern. The human rights situation is extremely precarious and may deteriorate if the fighting continues.
Human rights investigations have been undertaken in Freetown, Waterloo, Masiaka, Port Loko, Lungi, Bo and Rogberi Junction over the past three weeks. However, a complete picture of the human rights situation in Sierra Leone is not yet available. Access to areas outside Freetown has been limited since the recent outbreak of hostilities and to areas under RUF control non-existent.
During the current fighting civilians have been subjected to forced labour, their property has been looted and destroyed and food and money stolen by the RUF. Internally displaced people on the move have been particular victims. There are reports of cases of abduction, rape and physical harassment accompanying the fighting. UNAMSIL deplores the killing of journalists presumably by the RUF last Wednesday.
Fear of the kind of gross human rights violations that characterized the conflict in previous years has caused thousands of civilians to flee their homes. There has been a rapid increase in the internally displaced population resulting in humanitarian problems such as overcrowding and insufficient water and poor sanitation conditions in camps. Many displaced people are trapped in rebel-held areas and are not accessible for food and medical aid.
UNAMSIL is concerned about the treatment of any combatants and peacekeepers detained by the RUF as well as about the thousands of abductees, mainly women and children, taken in previous years who include children now being used in the fighting. UNAMSIL is continuing to push for the release of more than 250 peacekeepers who remain detained by the RUF.
UNAMSIL has also received reports indicating that government-allied forces have been responsible for extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detention and beatings. Following armed clashes in Masiaka on 10 May, Human Rights Officers observed 11 corpses, allegedly of RUF combatants killed during the fighting. At least two of the bodies had bullet wounds to the head, which appeared to have been administered at point-blank range. CDF and SLA commanders, however, denied that any of these soldiers had been executed. Other reports of human rights violations against RUF captives by government-allied soldiers are being investigated by UNAMSIL Human Rights Officers.
The killing of civilians by RUF elements at the demonstration outside Foday Sankoh’s residence on 8 May was a flagrant abuse of human rights. Following the demonstration and ensuing incidents in Freetown, some RUF personnel have been detained by Government authorities or turned themselves into protective custody. UNAMSIL is in dialogue with the Government with a view to monitoring the observance of internationally recognized standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners.
UNAMSIL is concerned about the continuing use of child soldiers by the various combatant groups. Child soldiers are prominent in the RUF; the group is reported to have initiated forcible conscription of males over the age of 15 in the Koidu area and conscription is taking place in Kambia. Government forces and allied militia are also using children. Children, including some possibly as young as ten years old, are fighting as part of AFRC and CDF paramilitary forces operating under SLA command.
The terrible impact of fighting in Sierra Leone on the lives of children has been a disturbing and recurring theme since the war began. Removing children from the fighting forces has been a priority since the Lomé Accord; over 1900 children have been among those demobilized since November last year. One of the successes of the past few weeks is the way the child protection agencies, national and international, have kept open and functioning the Interim Care Centres for demobilized children. As recently as 22 March the government, the SLA, the CDF and the AFRC signed a declaration to end the use of children as combatants. UNAMSIL welcomes this commitment and calls on all the fighting groups to release children to UN peacekeepers.
For further information contact Richard Bennett, Officer in Charge, Human Rights Section, 273 183-5 extn 6277
26 May 2000
Human rights situation in Sierra Leone
UNAMSIL is concerned about abuses of human rights taking place during the current period of hostilities and is calling on all sides to respect international human rights and humanitarian law. UNAMSIL has documented human rights violations against both civilians and prisoners. Fear of gross human rights violations has caused thousands of civilians to flee RUF forces. The RUF continues to hold thousands of persons abducted in previous years; many are now child soldiers and forcibly recruited civilians in its ranks. Children are also to be found among government-allied forces. The continued detention of UNAMSIL peacekeepers by the RUF is a serious concern. The human rights situation is extremely precarious and may deteriorate if the fighting continues.
Human rights investigations have been undertaken in Freetown, Waterloo, Masiaka, Port Loko, Lungi, Bo and Rogberi Junction over the past three weeks. However, a complete picture of the human rights situation in Sierra Leone is not yet available. Access to areas outside Freetown has been limited since the recent outbreak of hostilities and to areas under RUF control non-existent.
During the current fighting civilians have been subjected to forced labour, their property has been looted and destroyed and food and money stolen by the RUF. Internally displaced people on the move have been particular victims. There are reports of cases of abduction, rape and physical harassment accompanying the fighting. UNAMSIL deplores the killing of journalists presumably by the RUF last Wednesday.
Fear of the kind of gross human rights violations that characterized the conflict in previous years has caused thousands of civilians to flee their homes. There has been a rapid increase in the internally displaced population resulting in humanitarian problems such as overcrowding and insufficient water and poor sanitation conditions in camps. Many displaced people are trapped in rebel-held areas and are not accessible for food and medical aid.
UNAMSIL is concerned about the treatment of any combatants and peacekeepers detained by the RUF as well as about the thousands of abductees, mainly women and children, taken in previous years who include children now being used in the fighting. UNAMSIL is continuing to push for the release of more than 250 peacekeepers who remain detained by the RUF.
UNAMSIL has also received reports indicating that government-allied forces have been responsible for extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detention and beatings. Following armed clashes in Masiaka on 10 May, Human Rights Officers observed 11 corpses, allegedly of RUF combatants killed during the fighting. At least two of the bodies had bullet wounds to the head, which appeared to have been administered at point-blank range. CDF and SLA commanders, however, denied that any of these soldiers had been executed. Other reports of human rights violations against RUF captives by government-allied soldiers are being investigated by UNAMSIL Human Rights Officers.
The killing of civilians by RUF elements at the demonstration outside Foday Sankoh’s residence on 8 May was a flagrant abuse of human rights. Following the demonstration and ensuing incidents in Freetown, some RUF personnel have been detained by Government authorities or turned themselves into protective custody. UNAMSIL is in dialogue with the Government with a view to monitoring the observance of internationally recognized standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners.
UNAMSIL is concerned about the continuing use of child soldiers by the various combatant groups. Child soldiers are prominent in the RUF; the group is reported to have initiated forcible conscription of males over the age of 15 in the Koidu area and conscription is taking place in Kambia. Government forces and allied militia are also using children. Children, including some possibly as young as ten years old, are fighting as part of AFRC and CDF paramilitary forces operating under SLA command.
The terrible impact of fighting in Sierra Leone on the lives of children has been a disturbing and recurring theme since the war began. Removing children from the fighting forces has been a priority since the Lomé Accord; over 1900 children have been among those demobilized since November last year. One of the successes of the past few weeks is the way the child protection agencies, national and international, have kept open and functioning the Interim Care Centres for demobilized children. As recently as 22 March the government, the SLA, the CDF and the AFRC signed a declaration to end the use of children as combatants. UNAMSIL welcomes this commitment and calls on all the fighting groups to release children to UN peacekeepers.
For further information contact Richard Bennett, Officer in Charge, Human Rights Section, 273 183-5 extn 6277