State Parties to the present Charter shall have the duty to promote and ensure through teaching, education and publication, the respect of the rights and freedoms contained in the present Charter and to see to it that these freedoms and rights as well as corresponding obligations and duties are understood. Legal framework The enacting legislation of the Human Rights Commission Act20 mandates that the Commissioners of the same ensure the protection and promotion of human rights from existing laws and treaties (be they international or regional). General practise The Human Rights Commission has been tremendously successful in the protection and promotion of human rights in Sierra Leone earning it with an accreditation of “A” status from the United Nation Human Rights Council. To promote the education of the public on human rights issues the Independent Media Commission gives awards for human rights reporting which is judged by the commission. Currently, trainings for police and the army include education on human rights issues undertaken by the human resource directorate and training. This is also the case for prison officers. Court officials including the local court clerks and chair persons are also undergoing human rights trainings undertaken. Article 26 The independence of the courts and the establishment and improvement of appropriate national institutions entrusted with the promotion and protection of rights enshrined in the charter. Legal framework Chapter VII of the Constitution establishes the Judiciary. The court system functions in a hierarchy for the guarantee of appeals and as a mechanism for checks and balances in ensuring the promotion and protection for human rights. General practise To ensure this independence, the Judges are appointed by the President on the advice the Judicial and Legal Service Commission and such appointment is subject Parliamentary approval. For a Judge to be so appointed, he/she must be entitled practice as counsel for a period of ten, fifteen and twenty years in the High Court Sierra Leone. of to to of Once appointed, a Judge cannot be removed from office unless he has attained the retirement age, or he is removed for his inability to perform his functions as a judge or for misconduct. Where a judge is removed from office for inability to perform his functions or for misconduct, he will only be so removed by the President upon the recommendation of a tribunal appointed by the Judicial and Legal Service Commission to conduct an enquiry, or by a 2/3 rd majority vote of Parliament. This guarantees the independence of the Judiciary which is headed by the Chief Justice, from other organs of government such as the Executive and the Legislature and provides for checks and balances. 20 Act No. 9 of 2004 26