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Introduction
  Remembering the
 war

Chapter One
  How did it happen?

 Chapter Two
 What is the T.R.C

Chapter Three
  What happened to
 us?

Chapter Four
 What are we doing
 now?

Chapter Fove
  Findings and
 Recomendations
Chapter Six
 What do we see for
 the future?
Chapter Seven
  Plan of action:making
 the report a reality
 Acknowledgement

Methodology
   
Glossary

 

 

Chapter Seven:

The children of Sierra Leone have a very important role to play in telling people all over the country and all over the world about the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and its findings and recommendations. We want to make sure that children learn about the Commission’s report so that it will make a difference in the lives of children everywhere.

The Children’s Forum Network (CFN) held discussions with the Commission, and together we thought of any ways children can work together with the government, child protection agencies, community leaders, our teachers and our parents, to tell more children about the Child-Friendly Version of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report. We know that if we peak and work together, our voice will be loud and clear and our actions will be strong. We invite children throughout the country of Sierra Leone and throughout the world to join us in this work. Together we and create the vision of a peaceful future.

These are our proposals for making the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report a reality:

  • The Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs should work together with community groups, such as Child Welfare Committees, and with the CFN, to organise discussions and debates all over the country to raise awareness about the child-friendly Truth and Reconciliation commission report.
  • The CFN should create a plan of action, in follow-up to the children’s National Assembly, to distribute the child-friendly Version of the report through local CFN branches and to raise awareness among children throughout the country.
  • The child-friendly report is printed in English. We want to make sure it is also translated into local languages. We will work together with university students and teachers in the Provinces to help us translate the report into Krio, Temne, Limba, Mende and other local languages.
  • The Ministry of Education should include the child-friendly Truth and reconciliation Commission report in both the primary and secondary school curricula. The Ministry should distribute copies to schools and teachers so that it can be used in history and social studies classes.
  • Children could help organise school activities focused on the childfriendly report, such as debates, symposiums, presentations, drama, music and sports events.
  • Children could work through youth groups to help organise activities focused around the child-friendly report, including television and radio interviews with experts, government officials and, most important, children.
  • Children should use the childfriendly Truth and Reconciliation Commission report to lobby the Government and make sure the Government lives up to the promises proposed in the findings and recommendations chapter.
  • Children should also use the childfriendly report to lobby politicians to promote the best interests of children, for example, by passing the Children’s Act.
  • The child-friendly report should be presented by children in Parliament.
  • Children should find ways to involve parents in these activities and present new ideas.

National Cotton Tree, Freetown
National Cotton Tree, Freetown