On 27 April 2020, the Sierra Leonean Government confirmed the first positive COVID-19 case in a correctional facility. The male detainee who was held at the Remand Centre reported sick on 20 April 2020 and was confirmed six days later to have contracted the coronavirus.
The detainee had been arrested and charged for larceny – a minor offence. AdvocAid and CARL have repeatedly been calling for minor (or petty) offences to be decriminalised in order to decongest prisons and their disproportionate impact on marginalised people in Sierra Leone. In these times of crisis, we urge the Sierra Leone Police to reduce arrests for minor offences to decrease pressure on the justice system.
The World Health Organization, the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights have called on governments to release detainees so as to reduce overcrowding in order to prevent uncontrollable spreads of COVID-19 in detention facilities. Globally countries are responding: Senegal, Ethiopia and Ghana are examples of countries on the continent that have released thousands of prisoners.
To prevent further spread of the virus, we urgently repeat our call to the Government of Sierra Leone made on 25 March, to release:
- Pregnant women and women with children in detention. They should immediately be considered for release through use of various measures such as bail, early release, pardon or deferred/ suspended sentence.
- At risk populations, such as elderly prisoners or those with underlying health issues.
- Individuals sentenced for minor, low risk offences, particularly those who have six months or less remaining of their sentence to serve, as the Presidential Pardon can apply at any time for any offence.
All detention centres should have screening facilities in place for individuals entering and for those being released.
Rhiannon Davis, Executive Director of AdvocAid said:
“Coronavirus is a public health crisis. Now it is a human rights crisis as well.
Only immediate action to reduce arrests for minor offences and release vulnerable detainees will slow and stop the spread of disease in detention centres.
This pandemic does not discriminate between detainees, officers, and the wider community. We must not leave anyone behind.”
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About AdvocAid
AdvocAid provides access to justice, education and empowerment for women and girls in Sierra Leone. For more information about our work, please visit our website.
For Media Enquiries Contact:
Lydia Kembabazi, Legal Manager: 075 142 524, legal.manager@advocaidsl.org
Julie Mariama Sesay, Programme Manager: 076 895 370, programmes@advocaidsl.org