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Human Rights and Humanitarian affairs

Ambassador Samuel U.B. Saffa Esq Delivers Sierra Leone's Approaches to States Response to the Pandemic

Ambassador Samuel U.B. Saffa Esq Delivers Sierra Leone's Approaches to States Response to the Pandemic

Geneva, Switzerland, Monday 13 June 2022- At the Opening of the 50th Session of the Human Council, Sierra Leone's Deputy Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, WTO, and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, His Excellency Samuel U. B Saffa Esq, has delivered Sierra Leone`s statement at the Human Rights Council during the 50th Session of the Human Rights Council, from 13 June to 8 July 2022.

The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and making recommendations on them.

Ambassador Saffa thanked the High Commissioner for her oral update outlining the importance of the role of the state in responding to pandemics and other health emergencies.

Ambassador Saffa Esq informed the meeting that developing countries face disproportionate challenges in responding to pandemics and dealing with the socioeconomic consequences thereof. Indeed, the grave threat to public health is not the only consequence that pandemics pose to developing nations such as Sierra Leone.

"The pandemic has a plethora of knock-on effects on areas such as security, education, economic and social development, education, and sustainability. The human rights implications of these consequences are apparent in the case of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic", he said.

Sierra Leone Ambassador Saffa noted believes that state-led community support is key to responding to the socioeconomic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In May of 2022, my government provided 5.3 billion Leones as community development fund to support mining communities that dearly suffered from the economic consequences of the pandemic. Such investments are vital towards the creation of sustainable livelihoods upon which communities rely", Ambassador Saffa stated.

Ambassador Saffa maintained that Sierra Leone believes that a strong, calculated state response is crucial to mitigate the economic and social shocks created by pandemics, particularly in the case of developing nations. With support from development partners and donors, developing states require concrete plans to tackle the multifaceted consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. He concluded stating that government`s Quick Action Economic Response Programme has shown success in stabilising the economy and protecting livelihoods throughout the pandemic.

*For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Sheriff
Information Attaché, Geneva, Switzerland
+41791756648
Email: m.sheriff@slmge.ch*