By Sulaiman Jalloh
In a decisive step toward Sierra Leone’s 2026 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has held a two-day capacity-building workshop to prepare for the country’s 4th Cycle UPR and strengthen officials’ ability to draft a comprehensive national human rights report.
Held from October 14–15, 2025, the workshop supported by the UK-based International Community Organization (ICO) brought together key government officials involved in the UPR reporting process.
Mohamed S. Conteh, Esq., Director of Legal Affairs at the Ministry, outlined the workshop’s objective: to produce a robust and credible national report that reflects Sierra Leone’s progress on human rights. He confirmed that the Ministry’s Inter-Ministerial Committee Secretariat is leading the coordination effort and urged all relevant institutions to finalize their data submissions promptly, as the team targets a final report by May 2026.
Charlie Grant, Senior Programmes Manager at ICO, opened the session by emphasizing his organization’s long-standing partnership with Sierra Leone. He described the workshop as the foundation of a sustained collaboration that will extend beyond the 2026 review, supporting the implementation of UN recommendations and national policy reforms.
“This is just the beginning,” Grant affirmed, pledging ICO’s continued commitment to strengthening human rights institutions in Sierra Leone.
In a pre-recorded message, ICO Founder James Holmes echoed this sentiment, describing the exercise as a vital step in empowering Sierra Leone to “tell its own human rights story” on the global stage.
Representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Acting Director General Momodu A. Wurrie underscored the importance of the workshop, noting that it comes at a critical juncture ahead of the February 2026 deadline. He highlighted Sierra Leone’s progress since its last review in 2021 under President Julius Maada Bio, pointing to the nation’s internationally recognized “pro-human rights record.”
He cited flagship initiatives such as the Free Quality Education program and ongoing efforts to empower women and youth as tangible evidence of the government’s commitment to human rights.
Mr. Wurrie further revealed that Cabinet has endorsed a plan to support all officials involved in the UPR process, expressing confidence that the exercise will strengthen Sierra Leone’s human rights policies in line with global development goals and past UPR recommendations.
He added that the government continues to invest in key human rights institutions—including the Judiciary and the Human Rights Commission to ensure that commitments made in reports translate into real improvements for citizens.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended appreciation to ICO and its partners for their consistent support in advancing this vital national effort.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 17th October 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
