issues falling within the mandate of the MSWGCA or only on issue and activitybased collaboration. In consequence, they do not provide an effective framework
for a wider national process of coordination, improvement and monitoring of the
situation of children in Sierra Leone through the realization of their comprehensive
rights protected by the ACRWC and the CRC (Child Frontiers Limited, 2010).
60.
Therefore, a more comprehensive and overarching coordinating structure, the National
Commission for Children (NCC), is in the process of being established in terms of the
Child Rights Act. The role of the NCC is to monitor and coordinate implementation of
the ACRWC, the CRC and other instruments; to oversee implementation of children’s
rights and parental and state responsibilities, notably to provide guidance and oversee
the implementation of the best interest principle across all government ministries,
departments and functions; and to review and advise the GoSL on policy and legislative
changes necessary to improve the rights and welfare of children in Sierra Leone. More
specifically it is required to, inter alia:
Engage
in ongoing review of alignment and discord between legislation and
customary law and the ACRWC and the CRC and advise the GoSL on necessary
changes required;
Undertake a progressive review and guide all State institutions on applicable
criteria for ensuring the best interests of the child and respect for their rights,
including the right to be protected from economic exploitation;
To support effective decentralization of key child-specific services necessary for
realization of their rights;
To seek and mobilize international support for implementation of the CRC and
the ACRWC;
To ensure wide dissemination of the ACRWC and the CRC;
To advocate for a just and progressive juvenile justice system in Sierra Leone;
To produce reports on the status of realization of the rights of children as
protected by the ACRWC and the CRC.
61.
A budget has been allocated for the establishment of the NCC which is at an advanced
stage. All members, except for the most senior have been appointed. The senior cadre
of members, notably the Chairman, Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners, must
be appointed by the President, based on their knowledge and experience in child rights
matters. A list of candidates has been submitted to the President who is still to make
the appointments.
62.
The Chairman and Commissioners will be supported by a number of other members,
including a Paramount Chief, one male and one female parent, one male and one female
child, two representatives from the religious community, a UNICEF representative, a
representative of the Bar Association of Sierra Leone and the technical or professional
head of the MSWGCA.
63.
In addition to the child-specific coordination structures, a number of independent
human rights monitoring mechanisms have been established.
63.1
The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) was established
in terms of the Human Rights Commission Act (2004). The commission is
mandated to deal with all cases of Human Rights Violations and Abuses,
2. General Measures of Implementation
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