By Fatima Kpaka
September 9, 2025: Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Komba Kamanda, has called on the Human Rights Commission’s Directorate of Climate Change and Information Services to intensify its advocacy efforts in response to the country’s growing vulnerability to climate change.
Speaking during an engagement at the Chief Justice’s Conference Room, Justice Kamanda emphasized the urgent need for collective action to address climate-related threats such as sea level rise, flooding, extreme heat, and coastal erosion—factors that have already disrupted agriculture and food security across the nation.
“If climate change issues are not addressed, the environment will not be habitable for us,” he warned, reaffirming the judiciary’s commitment to supporting climate initiatives. “You have our support, and my door is always open.”
Justice Kamanda also pledged institutional backing for the upcoming National Conference on Climate Change and Human Rights, scheduled for October 28–29, 2025. The event, which will be organized by the Human Rights Commission, aims to convene experts, policymakers, government ministries, civil society organizations, and community stakeholders to explore the human rights implications of climate change.
Director of Climate Change and Information Services, Abu Bakar Kamara, explained that the conference will foster inter-ministerial partnerships and strengthen networks to address climate impacts on human rights. He expressed gratitude to the Chief Justice for his continued support and leadership on climate and justice-related issues.
The engagement underscores the judiciary’s evolving role in climate governance and its commitment to supporting national efforts that align environmental sustainability with human rights protections.
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