AI COMMEMORATES HUMAN RIGHTS ANNIVERSARY IN SIERRA LEONE

the Sierra Leone chapter of Amnesty commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The celebration which was held at the British Council in Freetown also intensified the call for the abolition of the death penalty in Sierra Leone. Addressing attendees, Amnesty International Country Director, Brima A. Sheriff welcomed all present for gracing the one-day symposium. He said among other things that the fight for the abolition of the death penalty in Sierra Leone was another impetus for the observance of that day, to in his words "map out strategies to engage the public on the essence of the abolition of the death penalty. In his brief input, Lawyers Centre for Legal Assistance director, Melron Nicol Wilson said though the death penalty is restricted to heinous crimes like murder, treason, mutiny (in the case of the armed forces), and robbery with aggravation, he described the penalty as draconian and no longer ‘a la mode’ in this modern world. He therefore further encouraged Amnesty international to join hands with other organisations to help abolish the death penalty in Sierra Leone.