A/69/44
three refugee bodies set out under the Refugees Protection Act, which inhibits them from
performing their functions effectively (art. 3).
The State party should abide by its obligations under the Convention, repeated in the
commitment made during the dialogue with the Committee, and amend the
Extradition Act to ensure that it conforms to the non-refoulement obligation under
article 3 of the Convention. The State party should also take the necessary steps to
guarantee that the principle of non-refoulement is properly applied by the High Court
and the Supreme Court when they decide on extradition cases. The State party should
further allocate sufficient funding to its national refugees structures to ensure their
sustainability, as recommended previously by the Human Rights Committee.
Jurisdiction over acts of torture
(21) The Committee is concerned at the lack of clarity concerning the possibility of
establishing extraterritorial jurisdiction over the crime of torture when the alleged victim is
a national of Sierra Leone, or the alleged foreign offender is present under its jurisdiction.
The Committee also notes the lack of clarity regarding the existence of the necessary
legislative measures establishing the State party’s obligation to extradite or prosecute for
acts of torture (aut dedere, aut judicare). The Committee further notes with concern that,
according to section 42, paragraph 1, of the Criminal Procedure Acts, 1965, national courts
may establish jurisdiction over crimes committed by nationals of Sierra Leone abroad only
when these crimes were committed by a public official acting “in the course of his duties”
(arts. 5, 6 and 7).
The State party should ensure that the new Criminal Procedure Act, 2014 establishes
extra-territorial jurisdiction over acts of torture when the alleged victim is a national
of Sierra Leone or the alleged offender is present in Sierra Leone, either to extradite
the alleged perpetrator to a State with jurisdiction over the offence or to an
international criminal tribunal, according to its international obligations, or to
prosecute him or her, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention. The State
party should also ensure that this Act establishes jurisdiction over acts of torture
committed by nationals of Sierra Leone abroad irrespective of whether the alleged
perpetrators were persons acting in an official capacity or public officials acting
outside their official duties.
Extradition and mutual assistance
(22) The Committee notes that the Extradition Act makes extradition contingent on the
existence of an extradition treaty with a listed number of countries. However the
Committee is concerned that the crimes enumerated in article 4 of the Convention are not
explicitly included in the Extradition Act as extraditable offences. Moreover, the State party
has not clarified whether it had invoked the Convention as a legal basis for extradition with
regard to these crimes when it received a request for extradition from another State party
with which it has no extradition treaty. The Committee is also concerned at the fact that
there are no provisions concerning mutual judicial assistance that could apply in the case of
the crimes enumerated in article 4 of the Convention (arts. 8 and 9).
In accordance with the undertaking made to the Committee, the State party should:
(a)
Amend the Extradition Act to ensure that the crimes enumerated in
article 4 of the Convention are considered as extraditable offences;
(b)
Take the necessary legislative and administrative measures to ensure
that the Convention can be invoked as a legal basis for extradition in respect of the
crimes enumerated in article 4 of the Convention when it receives a request for
extradition from any other State party with which it has no extradition treaty, while
at the same time observing the provisions of article 3 of the Convention;
GE.14-12596
143
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents