-says Human Rights Commission director
June 10, 2016 By Ibrahim Tarawallie
The Director of Education, Communication and Training at the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone has said that in spite of efforts in the past to promote a culture of human rights, broader understanding of human rights issues by key stakeholders, especially public officials and the general public, remains a major challenge.
Frederick Kamara was speaking during an engagement at the Sierra Leone Library Board with key stakeholders on the successful implementation of the commission’s communication strategy.
He stated that the commission was required by law to foster a culture of human rights in the country through public awareness and education programmes, as well as the provision of human rights information.
According to him, a communication strategy would enhance the commission’s ability to develop an effective means of interacting with partners and the general public.
While registering the commission’s appreciation to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for providing funds for the finalisation and roll out of the communication strategy, Mr. Kamara expressed optimism that stakeholders would support its implementation in the next five years.
He added that the protection and promotion of human rights is the statutory mandate of the commission and that they normally do it through public information and education.
Giving and overview of the communications strategy, Zenia Thompson noted that even before the document was formulated, they had been engaging the media through various communication activities.
She said the communication strategy seeks to bring the commission closer to the people and would target a wide range of audiences with key messages and programmes of the commission.