PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 09 May 2023
The Network Movement for Democracy and Human Rights (NMDHR) joins the European Union Sierra Leone, to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the Schuman Declaration Marking “Europe Day” on the 9th of May 2023. In celebrating this day, we want to seize this opportunity to acknowledge European Union for its enormous support to Sierra Leone since the early 70’s. We also want to thank European Union for its continual support to Sierra Leone, and for making further commitment of 245 million Euro for its 12th Multi-annual indicative Programme (MIP) which is poised to strengthen the following Objective: Green Economy, Human Capital Development, Democratic Government, Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom for all Sierra Leoneans.
Over the year, Sierra Leone has built a strategic relationship with the European Union that has contributed to promoting, fulfilling, and respecting democracy; promoting free, credible, and transparent elections; human rights consolidation; improving educational outcomes; infrastructural development; and advancing agro business for improved food productivity amongst others.
NMDHR recognizes the role the European Union is playing in the development of Sierra Leone, and we wish to applaud and encourage them to continue supporting Sierra Leone achieve its development goals in tandem with the SDGs especially in the area of SDG 4 accessing basic services and better-quality education, SDG 9 infrastructure, SOG 3 health and SDG 2 access to food through increased agriculture production of both food and cash crops so that the agriculture sector wil have huge potential for job creation and infiuencing international trades.
On another note, we also entreat and encourage the European Union to continue in strengthening the capacity of civl society organization with technical and financial opportunities to empower us, complement the development aspiration of the government of Sierra Leone in partnership with other development partners, and become much more resilient against authoritative Policies and actions from Government.
NMDHR’S Mission is to empower all people through a human rights based-approach to achieve Sustainable Development and work to end inequality and poverty. We also call upon national leadership to continue nurturing this relationship which is in line with our National Development Plan.
– Abdul Karim Habib, Executive Director, NMDHR