In 2020, CILPA launched an International Law Discussion series with institutional partners in Sierra Leone.

The International Law Discussions in Sierra Leone are aimed at:

• Initiating dialogues in order to promote the dissemination, wider appreciation of international law and its implementation in Sierra Leone.
• Raising awareness on the international law-making process, the role of legal practitioners and impact on domestic implementation.
• Encouraging specific treaty action on critical international and regional treaties and promote effective and timeous implementation.
• Engendering an inclusive and transparent process for domestication of international law instruments in Sierra Leone.
• Encouraging participation in the human rights treaty reporting processes and, thereby strengthen the legal regime for the promotion and protection of human rights.

Audience:

Legal practitioners, academics, personnel of the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, representatives of foreign missions, international organizations and non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector (in particular the Chambers of Commerce and Mines).  While the above events are aimed primarily at a national audience, given the selected theme which aims to demonstrate the relevance of international law for the Sierra Leonean legal profession, participants from other African countries especially the ECOWAS countries are welcome.

Format:

Hybrid in-person and virtual sessions that may take the form of panel discussions and/or workshops to allow for exchange of ideas. Provides basis for in-depth analysis of the outcome documents to serve as blueprint for decisive intervention in the areas discussed. The panels may not be more than two hours, and technology permitting, may be followed by breakout workshop segments for a maximum of two hours and a maximum of an hour reporting and closing segment.

Series:

The International Law Discussion Series will be conducted in four sessions on the following topics reflecting diverse areas of international law:

1. Session 1 on the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (“New York Convention”) to which Sierra Leone acceded as the 166th State Party on 28 October 2020 with entry into force effective 26 January 2021 (this event was a collaboration between CILPA and the Sierra Leonian Bar Association already held on 25 February 2021 at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Freetown, Sierra Leone)
2. Session 2 on Sierra Leone’s Universal Periodic Review in the  United Nations Human Rights Council (this event  took place on 21 January 2022 at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Freetown, Sierra Leone, co-hosted by the University of Makeni (UNIMAK)).
3. Session 3 on the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court amendments and the need for implementing legislation under Sierra Leonean domestic law (date to be announced); and
4. Session 4 on the Law of the Sea/International Environmental Law (with a focus on sea level rise in relation to international law and marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (date to be announced).

Further information on these upcoming series will be posted on the CILPA website in the near future. In the meantime, should you have an interest in learning more or participating in any of the workshops, we invite you to email us at [email protected].