Young people in Sierra Leone plan Youth Justice in Action Solidarity Day

11 November 2008

The second Solidarity Day for our Youth Justice in Action campaign will be taking place in Freetown on Saturday 15th November 2008.

Young people will be demonstrating in front of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs and marching down to the main city square with placards and megaphones spreading their message along the way. They will be calling on the Government to respect the laws laid out in the new Child Rights Act which will be officially launched a few days later. The Act includes details on how young people in conflict with the law should be treated, such as raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14 years old, using prison as a last resort and ensuring that any trial process is appropriate and fair.  
 
The Minister for Justice has been invited to the event as well as the Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, the Presidential Affairs Minister and representatives from the Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Human Rights office.
 
We are asking young people around the world to mark the Solidarity Day by taking action in solidarity with young people in Sierra Leone on Saturday 15th November. Click here for more information and to take action.