By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL), in collaboration with DIGNITY/NANHRI, has conducted a virtual capacity-building workshop for staff across its headquarters and regional offices to strengthen preventive prison monitoring and promote the protection of the rights of persons deprived of their liberty.
The workshop brought together Commission staff from different parts of the country and built on
recommendations from an earlier in-person training programme. It focused on enhancing participants’ knowledge and practical skills in monitoring places of detention in accordance with national, regional, and international human rights standards.
Facilitators emphasized the importance of regular and independent monitoring of detention facilities as a key mechanism for preventing torture, inhumane treatment, and other forms of abuse. Participants were equipped with practical approaches to conducting effective prison visits, documenting findings, and making recommendations aimed at improving detention conditions.
According to the organisers, the training forms part of a broader three-year programme implemented by DIGNITY/NANHRI to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks across Africa for the prevention of torture and other forms of ill-treatment within justice systems.
The initiative seeks to empower national human rights institutions with the technical expertise and monitoring tools needed to promote accountability, safeguard the dignity of detainees, and encourage compliance with international human rights obligations.
The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone noted that the workshop represents another significant step in strengthening its institutional capacity to carry out independent and effective monitoring of prisons, police cells, and other detention facilities throughout the country.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to promoting and protecting human rights by ensuring that conditions in places of detention meet established national and international standards. It also pledged to continue working with national authorities, development partners, and other stakeholders to advance humane treatment, accountability, and respect for the rights of all persons in detention.
The virtual workshop reflects the HRCSL’s ongoing efforts to enhance professionalism among its staff and reinforce its role as a key institution in promoting justice, transparency, and human rights in Sierra Leone.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 1st July 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
