Library and Links: Overview: United States Institute of Peace

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Sierra Leone

A peace agreement between the government of Sierra Leone and the rebel Revolutionary United Front calls for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission within 90 days after the signing of the agreement on July 7, 1999.

The commission was later enacted in 2000 by the President and Parliament. The commission is mandated to produce a report on human rights violations since the beginning of the conflict in 1991 and issue recommendations to facilitate reconciliation and prevent a repetition of past violations. The commission is to "address impunity" and provide a forum for both victims and perpetrators of past abuses. The act provides the Truth and Reconciliation Commission with one year to produce its report and recommendations, with the possibility of an extension. Broad amnesty provisions in the agreement grant pardon and immunity from prosecution to combatants and collaborators for abuses committed during the armed conflict.

The final report of the Commission was transmitted to the President of Sierra Leone on October 5, 2004 and presented to the United Nations Security Council October 27, 2004. Three chapters of the report: the overview, findings and recommendations, are available on the U.S. Institute of Peace's web site as part of the Truth Commissions Digital Collection.

Sources:

The New York Times 07/08/1999
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act 2000: Sierra Leone: Charters: Truth Commissions: Library and Links: U. S. Institute of Peace , February 10, 2000.
"Article XXVI: Human Rights Violations, Peace Agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone." United States Institute of Peace Library: Peace Agreements Digital Collection: Sierra Leone. July 7, 1999.
E-mail from Howard Varney, Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission Chief Investigator, November 12, 2004.
Final Report on ten-year Sierra Leone conflict published; seeks to set out historical record, offer guidance for future, United Nations Press Release, ECOSOC/6140, GA/10287, SC/8227, October 27, 2004, http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/ecosoc6140.doc.htm (February 10, 2005).