National and Regional Laws and Policies
on Internal Displacement

SIERRA LEONE

From 1991 until 2002, Sierra Leone’s civil war led to the displacement of approximately 4.5 million people, about half the country’s population. The Lomé Peace Agreement signed in July 1999 referred to the need to design and implement a plan for voluntary repatriation and reintegration of Sierra Leonean refugees and internally displaced persons (Article XXII). From April 2001 to November 2002, 223,000 registered IDPs were reintegrated in five phases. Many more returned home spontaneously. Officially, the return process ended in November 2002.

Resettlement Strategy (October 2001)

Purpose: The Strategy was developed by the National Commission for Reconstruction, Resettlement and Rehabilitation (NCRRR) in December 2000 following the reactivation of the peace process as a means of contributing to peace and reconciliation in the country. Revised in 2001, the Strategy aimed to contribute to the transition from conflict to peace by establishing the plan for resettlement and reintegration of internally displaced persons, refugees and ex-combatants (1. Introduction).

Responsibilities: Responsibility for implementation of the Strategy lies with the Resettlement Steering Committee comprised of a representative of the NCRRR, other relevant ministries, the military/police, relevant UN organizations, sectoral specialists and a representative of displaced persons (Annex 5). A national level committee is responsible for setting criteria to determine the safety of areas of return (Annex 1). District level committees determine, according to these criteria, when an area is safe (Annex 2).

Content: The Strategy defines beneficiaries of assistance according to distinct groups including ‘registered IDPs’ and ‘unregistered IDPs’ (Ch. 2). Further, the Strategy details the assistance to be provided in the process of resettlement and the assistance to communities once resettlement has occurred (Ch. 3). Finally, Chapter 4 details the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

Provisions of note include:

• emphasis on return (s. 1.1)
• registration conducted in accordance with description of ‘internally displaced persons’ in the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (2.1);
• as a general rule, transportation and resettlement assistance for registered IDPs only (2.1), unregistered IDPs may in some circumstances receive assistance (2.2);
• assistance for two months following return (3.4.1);
• participation of the displaced in the national Resettlement Steering Committee and district committees (Annex 2, 5).

Recovery Strategy for Newly Accessible Areas (May 2002)

Purpose: In 2001, in order to coordinate the restoration of civil authority and broader recovery throughout Sierra Leone, the National Recovery Committee (NRC) was established, chaired by the Vice-President. In May 2002, the NRC developed the Recovery Strategy with the overall goal of contributing to the consolidation of peace and stability while laying the foundations for longer-term development (p. 6).

Responsibilities: The Recovery Strategy recognizes the district and national level committees established by the Resettlement Strategy. The National Recovery Committee, chaired by the Vice-President, is responsible for ‘guiding’ the recovery program. Overall humanitarian coordination envisaged by the Recovery Strategy is to be carried out by the Consultative Forum chaired by the National Commission for Social Action, formerly NCRRR (Ch. 8).

Content: The Strategy addresses: restoration of civil authority; resettlement, repatriation and reintegration; reconciliation and promotion of human rights; humanitarian assistance and resumption of basic services; stimulating the economy; extending access; and coordination, monitoring and evaluation.

Provisions of note include:

• emphasis on return (Ch. 3);
• recognition of customary rights and institutions (s. 2.6, 2.7);
• establishment of system for transfer of voter registration (s. 3.1(iv));
• development of Rapid Response Education program and targeted training of teachers on psychological affects of trauma (s. 5.3(ii));
• provision of two-month food rations (s. 5.5(iii)).