VZCZCXRO5486
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0379 1651530
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 141530Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1151
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000379 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM SL
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT PASSES CHILD RIGHTS ACT BEFORE DISSOLVING 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) On June 6, Parliament passed the Child Rights Act. The 
legislation had languished in Parliament for months reportedly due 
to members' inability to reach a consensus on language to address 
guarded traditional initiation rituals, including female genital 
mutilation (FGM) and male circumcision. Parliament observers 
reported Parliamentarians were uncomfortable inserting language into 
the legislation that would ban FGM, given that FGM is still widely 
accepted and practiced by secret societies in Sierra Leone. 
Parliamentarians also expressed unease with banning FGM, fearful 
that it may be used against them in the upcoming political 
campaigns. The final bill passed without any specific reference to 
FGM. 
 
¶2. (U) The new Act makes it illegal to "subject anybody under the 
age of 18 to harmful treatment." The legislation also defines anyone 
under the age of 18 as a child and prohibits forced marriage for 
girls under the age of 18.  The Act also contains provisions for the 
creation of family courts and child committees at the local 
government level. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Commenting on the legislation's passage, Chairman of the 
Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights Dr. Alusine Fofanah hailed 
it as extremely important for the promotion of human rights and 
protection of children. Chairperson of the GOSL's new Human Rights 
Commission Mrs. Jamesina King voiced similar praise stating the Act 
was a huge step for the recognition of human rights in the country. 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) Although the Act does not categorically prohibit FGM, many 
human rights groups and medical professionals, who consider FGM 
harmful, have said they are prepared to argue that "harmful 
treatment" may be interpreted to mean it is legally enforceable to 
ban FGM for girls under the age of 18. Dr. Fofanah told PolOff that 
the legislation still lacked an adequate definition of initiation. 
Despite no specific reference to a ban on FGM, he felt that the Act 
will provide sufficient protection for girls until they are 18. The 
new law requires individual consent be given for anyone 18 and older 
before they can be initiated. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Parliament is scheduled to dissolve on June 25 in 
preparation for the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections on 
August 11. It is hurriedly trying to pass legislation in its last 
days, including the Trade Act and three gender bills. There will be 
a large turnover in the membership as many members are not expected 
to contest their seats, and many other members have already been 
ousted in their party primaries. Human rights advocates are hopeful 
that the new Parliament will revisit the legislation following the 
elections and add amendments to include language specifically 
banning FGM and other harmful initiation rituals. 
 
¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: The passage of this important legislation is a 
welcome sign that the Government is serious about providing adequate 
protection for vulnerable women and children who regularly have been 
victims of violence, abuse, exploitation, and deprivation. Outgoing 
President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah made good on his promise to push the 
Act through Parliament. President Kabbah also signed a certificate 
of urgency to help expedite three critical Gender bills, which may 
pass before Parliament dissolves in late June. END COMMENT. 
 
HULL