Attorney General Champions Human-Rights-Driven Climate Action
Sierra Leone’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, has underscored the urgent need to embed human rights principles into the country’s climate policies, declaring that climate justice must guide all national responses to climate change.
Delivering the keynote address at the 1st National Conference on Human Rights and Climate Change held at the Bank Complex in Kingtom, Freetown, the Attorney General emphasized that climate change is not an abstract concept for Sierra Leoneans, but a real and pressing threat to lives, livelihoods, and fundamental rights.
“In Sierra Leone, climate change is a lived reality of our people — not just statistics or distant targets,” he stated.
“We acknowledge the strong interconnection between climate change and the enjoyment of human rights. That is why government will ensure that our laws, policies, and programmes reflect a deep commitment to climate justice and the protection of human rights.”
The conference, hosted by the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) under the theme, “Integrating the Human Rights-Based Approach into Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Measures and Programmes,” brought together policymakers, civil society leaders, development partners, and climate advocates.
During the event, Attorney General Sesay officially launched the Commission’s groundbreaking report titled:
“An Assessment of Climate Change-Related Laws and Policies and of Climate Change Impacts and Measures from a Human Rights Perspective.”
The report provides an in-depth review of Sierra Leone’s climate governance framework and offers strategic recommendations to help institutions adopt a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) to climate resilience, mitigation, and adaptation.
He commended HRCSL for its leadership in advancing climate justice and ensuring that climate action efforts reflect principles of fairness, equity, and inclusion.
The Attorney General reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensuring that climate interventions “remain inclusive, equitable, and aligned with international human rights standards and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
Participants at the national conference discussed ways to ensure that climate measures protect the rights of those most vulnerable to climate impacts — including women, children, rural communities, and persons with disabilities.
The event marked a significant step in Sierra Leone’s efforts to place human dignity, justice, and environmental sustainability at the center of national development.
