2004 Press Releases

U.S. Ambassador Approves Funding for Democracy and Human Rights Projects in Sierra Leone

September 24, 2004

Freetown
Contact PAO Kevin Green
Tel: 226 481

On September 24, 2004, U.S. Ambassador Thomas N. Hull awarded $92,000 (over 240 million Leones) to seven Sierra Leonean organizations for their democracy and human rights projects.  At an American Embassy ceremony, the Ambassador and representatives of the organizations signed grant agreements for assistance from the Democracy and Human Rights Fund that is supported by the United States Agency of International Development (USAID) through the generosity of the American people. 

During the ceremony, Ambassador Hull emphasized that “the Democracy and Human Rights Fund will be used this year to increase participation of women in the political process, to protect women from unwanted FGM (female genital mutilation), to further democracy and human rights awareness among youth, to monitor prison conditions and juvenile justice, to aid community radio, and to survey public policy performance nationwide. 

“The choice of projects awarded today from a large pool of worthy applicants,” Ambassador Hull continued, “reflects not only the very best candidates, but our broad commitment to advancing democracy and human rights throughout Sierra Leone,” adding the “the United States Government, on behalf of the people of America, is proud to work as partners with committed citizens and communities in Sierra Leone to achieve the important goals of this grant program.”

Projects funded by the Democracy and Human Rights fund this year include:

• Promotion of women’s rights in Kabala (Koinadugu District) by Community Action On Nation Building) through an awareness workshop on political rights
• Promoting youth participation in governance/human rights through radio in Freetown/Western Area by Solarcomm Media Management
• Visitation of prisons and detention centers nationwide by Prison Watch Sierra Leone
• Building the capacity of a rural community radio station in Mile 91 (Tonkolili District) by Radio Gbafth FM 91.0 
• Enhancing administration of juvenile justice in the Western Area by Defense for Children International-SL
• Research On Public Policy Analysis nationwide by Campaign for Good Governance 
• Reducing Female Genital Mutilation in Lunsar (Port Loko District) by Amazonian Initiative Movement