Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. On 11th June 2025, a high-level delegation from the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) held a strategic meeting with the Head of Mission of the Iceland Embassy in Freetown, Àsdis Bjarnadóttir, on strategic Cooperation.
The objective of the meeting was to explore synergies between the Commission and Iceland’s ongoing development initiatives and to identify avenues for future collaboration.
Commissioner Hassan Samba Yarjah expressed deep appreciation to the Icelandic Embassy for its commitment to fostering a strong partnership with HRCSL. He highlighted the importance of cooperation on key issues such as climate change, human rights, and the enhancement of referral and reporting mechanisms in gender-based violence (GBV).
Commissioner Yarjah also unveiled two concept notes that reflect the Commission’s strategic vision for partnership:
Climate Change & Human Rights: focusing on how environmental degradation threatens fundamental rights such as access to food, shelter, water, and healthcare, especially for vulnerable communities.
The Gender-Based Violence Framework, a comprehensive, rights-based approach emphasizing accountability, prevention, protection, survivor empowerment, and improved referral and reporting systems.
In her remarks, Head of Mission Àsdis Bjarnadóttir noted that Iceland currently supports 17 coastal communities across five districts by improving access to basic services, including WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), education, and fish handling infrastructure. She stressed the importance of sustainable livelihoods, stating: “If people don’t have livelihoods, they can’t support themselves.”
Madam Bjarnadóttir reaffirmed Iceland’s commitment to a human rights-based approach in its international development cooperation strategy and pledged to work with the Commission in advancing human rights. She emphasized the embassy’s dedication to addressing the root causes of human rights violations.
The meeting concluded with a formal submission of the concept notes for potential Iceland support, signaling a promising pathway toward strengthened cooperation for sustainable development and human rights protection in Sierra Leone.
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