National Documentation Packages (NDPs) are lists of public documents that provide information on country conditions. Updates occur on a regular basis. NDPs are updated cyclically based on publicly available information. In periods of rapid change and/or uncertainty, updates may be delayed to allow sufficient time to build a body of relevant information.
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Jurisprudential Guides Notes
Jurisprudential Guides Notes
On
July 28, 2022, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide:
-
Decision TC1 05038 – The proper interpretation of the ‘generalized risk’ exception to protection found at subparagraph 97(1)(b)(ii) of the Act, in claims for protection involving allegations of gang-targeting or other acts of criminality.
On
December 22, 2020, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide.
-
Decision MB8-00025 – This Jurisprudential Guide addresses, in applying Article 1E of the Refugee Convention, whether members should consider allegations of risk in a country of residence if they conclude that a refugee claimant has the rights and obligations which are attached to the possession of nationality in that country.
On
July 6, 2018, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide.
-
Decision TB7-19851 – Nigeria – This Jurisprudential Guide addresses internal flight alternatives in major cities in south and central Nigeria for claimants fleeing non-state actors.
Revoked
The country documentation referenced in each of these decisions has been included in s.16 of the updated National Documentation Packages published on July 10, 2018.
On
July 20, 2017, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being
Jurisprudential Guides.
-
Decision TB7-01837 – Pakistan – Whether the treatment experienced by Ahmadis in Pakistan amounts to persecution, whether state protection is available and whether there is a viable internal flight alternative.
-
Decision MB6-01059/60 – India – Availability of an internal flight alternative in India for claimants from Punjab.
Revoked
-
Decision TB6-11632 – China – Analysis of the efficacy of the Chinese national computer network known as the Golden Shield Project and its impact on whether a person wanted by the authorities can exit China via an airport using a genuine passport.
Revoked
The country documentation referenced in each of these decisions has been included in s.16 of the updated National Documentation Packages published on July 20, 2017.
Back
31 January 2018
SIERRA LEONE
List of Documents
1.
General Information and Maps
Source:
United Nations. Cartographic Section.
Date of Document:
September 2014
Accessed Date:
27 December 2017
Title:
Sierra Leone. L'Encyclopédie en ligne.
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Title:
Final Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone
Source:
United Nations. Security Council.
Date of Document:
17 March 2014
Accessed Date:
23 December 2014
Title:
Sierra Leone. The World Factbook.
Source:
United States. Central Intelligence Agency.
Accessed Date:
26 January 2018
Title:
Sierra Leone. Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Africa, 2017.
Source:
United States. Social Security Administration.
Date of Document:
September 2017
Accessed Date:
27 December 2017
Title:
Sierra Leone. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
3 March 2017
Accessed Date:
7 March 2017
Title:
Sierra Leone. Amnesty International Report 2016/2017: The State of the World's Human Rights.
Source:
Amnesty International
Accessed Date:
9 January 2018
Title:
Sierra Leone. Shadow Report Submitted to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. 57th Ordinary Session. 4-18 November 2015.
Source:
Amnesty International
Date of Document:
5 November 2015
Accessed Date:
12 January 2016
Keywords:
corruption; election; extralegal executions/killings; gender equality; gender-based violence; judicial corruption; legal system; legislation; police/security forces; political activities; sexual violence
Title:
Sierra Leone. Freedom in the World 2016.
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Title:
National report submitted in accordance with paragraph 5 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 16/21: Sierra Leone
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/24/SLE/1
Date of Document:
17 November 2015
Accessed Date:
17 November 2015
Title:
Compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/24/SLE/2
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Council.
Date of Document:
23 November 2015
Accessed Date:
3 January 2018
Title:
Summary prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21: Sierra Leone
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/24/SLE/3
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Council.
Date of Document:
6 November 2015
Accessed Date:
3 January 2018
3.
Identification Documents and Citizenship
Title:
Sierra Leone Citizenship Act, 1973 (amended in 1976)
Accessed Date:
3 April 2013
Keywords:
citizenship; legislation
Title:
The Sierra Leone Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2006
Accessed Date:
3 April 2013
Keywords:
citizenship; legislation
Title:
Parliament Enacts into Law the Citizenship Amendment Act 2017
Date of Document:
5 July 2017
Accessed Date:
27 December 2017
Title:
Birth certificates and national identity cards, including requirements and procedures, appearance and security features; document issued to replace a missing birth certificate; circumstances in which a Certified True Copy BC/99 is issued...
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
19 October 2015
Accessed Date:
26 January 2016
Keywords:
document fraud; identity documents
Title:
Sierra Leone Reciprocity Schedule
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Accessed Date:
26 January 2018
4.
Political Activities and Organizations
Title:
Sierra Leone Parliament
Source:
Inter-Parliamentary Union. Parline
Date of Document:
25 February 2016
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Title:
I. Political Transformation. Bertelsmann Stiftung, BTI 2016 — Sierra Leone Country Report.
Source:
Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Title:
Paramount chiefdoms of Kono District, including names; whether there is a paramount chief for Kono; information on the chiefdom in Koidu, including names of its paramount chiefs since 1985, how they are appointed, and their duties (1985- June 2015)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
2 July 2015
Accessed Date:
14 January 2016
Title:
In Sierra Leone, perceived corruption rises, public trust and leaders' job approval drop
Date of Document:
29 June 2016
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Title:
Civic Freedom Monitor: Sierra Leone
Source:
The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law
Date of Document:
1 August 2017
Accessed Date:
29 January 2018
Title:
Final Report. Presidential, Parliamentary And Local Council Elections, 17 November 2012.
Source:
European Union Election Observation Mission
Date of Document:
20 February 2013
Accessed Date:
27 December 2017
Title:
Information on the Poro Society, including rituals and initation; ability to refuse initiation or leadership roles; availability of state protection (2015-July 2017)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
18 September 2017
Accessed Date:
29 January 2018
5.
Gender, Domestic Violence and Children
Title:
Shamed and Blamed: Pregnant Girls' Rights at Risk in Sierra Leone
Source:
Amnesty International
Date of Document:
6 November 2015
Accessed Date:
12 January 2016
Keywords:
children; family law; gender-based violence; legislation; social services
Title:
The Sexual Offence Act, 2012
Accessed Date:
23 December 2014
Keywords:
children; gender-based violence; institutional efficacy; legislation; police/security forces; sexual violence
Title:
The Domestic Violence Act, 2007
Accessed Date:
22 November 2012
Keywords:
domestic violence; legislation
Title:
Information on Sisters United Against Female Genital Mutilation and Sisters United Against Female Circumcision in Freetown (2011-August 2015)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
24 August 2015
Accessed Date:
11 January 2016
Keywords:
children; conflict; crime; female genital mutilation; gender-based violence; human rights activists; social services
Title:
The Sierra Leone Women's Health Network, including its mission, the services it offers, and projects (2011-June 2015)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
3 July 2015
Accessed Date:
26 January 2016
Title:
Sierra Leone. Social Institutions and Gender Index 2014.
Source:
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Accessed Date:
11 December 2015
Keywords:
family law; legislation; social services
Title:
The Worst Forms of Violence Against Children and Youth in Sierra Leone
Source:
Search for Common Ground
Date of Document:
March 2015
Author:
Abdul H. Collier et al.
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Title:
Sierra Leone: Seeking Justice For Rape Survivors
Source:
Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Date of Document:
8 August 2016
Author:
Bintu Conteh; Regina Pratt
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Title:
Les mariages forcés en Sierra Leone
Source:
France. Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides.
Date of Document:
6 December 2016
Accessed Date:
27 December 2017
Title:
Sierra Leone. State Sponsored Homophobia 2017: A world survey of sexual orientation laws: criminalisation, protection and recognition.
Source:
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
Date of Document:
May 2017
Author:
Aengus Carroll; Lucas Ramón Mendos
Accessed Date:
27 December 2017
Title:
Criminalisation of Homosexuality: Sierra Leone.
Source:
Human Dignity Trust
Date of Document:
25 October 2015
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
7.
Criminality and Corruption
Title:
Sierra Leone (Tier 2). Trafficking in Persons Report 2017.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
June 2017
Accessed Date:
9 January 2018
8.
Military Service - (No items in this section)
9.
Judiciary, Legal and Penal Systems
Title:
Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991 (reinst. 1996, rev. 2008)
Accessed Date:
26 January 2018
Title:
Government Rejection of Important Constitutional Review Recommendations a Missed Opportunity to Strengthen Human Rights Protection
Date of Document:
6 December 2017
Accessed Date:
26 January 2018
10.
Police and Security Forces - (No items in this section)
Title:
Sierra Leone. Freedom of the Press 2016.
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Title:
Sierra Leone. International Religious Freedom Report for 2016.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
15 August 2017
Accessed Date:
27 December 2017
13.
Nationality, Ethnicity and Race - (No items in this section)
14.
Exit/Entry and Freedom of Movement - (No items in this section)
15.
Labour, Employment and Unions - (No items in this section)
16.
Other - (No items in this section)
The following changes have been made to the previous package dated 31 March 2017:
Title:
Sierra Leone. The World Factbook.
Source:
United States. Central Intelligence Agency.
Date of Document:
12 December 2016
URL:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sl.html
Accessed Date:
17 January 2017
Title:
Sierra Leone. Amnesty International Report 2015/16: The State of the World's Human Rights.
Source:
Amnesty International
URL:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/africa/sierra-leone/report-sierra-leone/
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Title:
Sierra Leone. State-Sponsored Homophobia. A world survey of sexual orientation laws: criminalisation, protection and recognition.
Source:
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
Date of Document:
October 2016
URL:
http://ilga.org/downloads/02_ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2016_ENG_WEB_150516.pdf
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Title:
Sierra Leone (Tier 2). Trafficking in Persons Report 2016.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
July 2016
URL:
http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2016/258854.htm
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Title:
Sierra Leone. International Religious Freedom Report for 2015.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
10 August 2016
URL:
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm?year=2015&dlid=256067
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Source:
United States. Central Intelligence Agency
URL:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/sierra_leone_rel_2005.jpg
Accessed Date:
10 December 2015
Title:
Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Sierra Leone
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Council.
Date of Document:
14 April 2016
URL:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/SLSession24.aspx
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Title:
Concluding Observations on the Initial Report of Sierra Leone
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Committee.
Date of Document:
17 April 2014
URL:
http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CCPR/C/SLE/CO/1&Lang=En
Accessed Date:
23 December 2014
Keywords:
arbitrary arrest and detention; children; female genital mutilation; gender equality; gender-based violence; legal system; legislation; marriage; penal system; sexual minorities; sexual violence; torture; trafficking in persons
Title:
The Law Relating to Nationality/Citizenship in Sierra Leone
Date of Document:
12 December 2014
URL:
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrdb/28th/Sierra_Leone_12.12.14_(2.2014).pdf
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Title:
Sierra Leone. WJP Rule of Law Index 2016.
Source:
World Justice Project
URL:
http://data.worldjusticeproject.org/#/groups/SLN
Accessed Date:
4 January 2017
Source:
United Nations. Cartographic Section.
Date of Document:
September 2014
URL:
http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/sierrale.pdf
Accessed Date:
27 December 2017
Title:
Sierra Leone. Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Africa, 2017.
Source:
United States. Social Security Administration.
Date of Document:
September 2017
URL:
https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/2016-2017/africa/sierra-leone.html
Accessed Date:
27 December 2017
Title:
National report submitted in accordance with paragraph 5 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 16/21: Sierra Leone
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/24/SLE/1
Date of Document:
17 November 2015
URL:
http://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/WG.6/24/SLE/1
Accessed Date:
17 November 2015
Title:
Compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/24/SLE/2
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Council.
Date of Document:
23 November 2015
URL:
http://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/WG.6/24/SLE/2
Accessed Date:
3 January 2018
Title:
Summary prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21: Sierra Leone
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/24/SLE/3
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Council.
Date of Document:
6 November 2015
URL:
http://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/WG.6/24/SLE/3
Accessed Date:
3 January 2018
Title:
Sierra Leone Reciprocity Schedule
Source:
United States. Department of State.
URL:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/SierraLeone.html
Accessed Date:
26 January 2018
Title:
Civic Freedom Monitor: Sierra Leone
Source:
The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law
Date of Document:
1 August 2017
URL:
http://www.icnl.org/research/monitor/sierraleone.html
Accessed Date:
29 January 2018
Title:
Final Report. Presidential, Parliamentary And Local Council Elections, 17 November 2012.
Source:
European Union Election Observation Mission
Date of Document:
20 February 2013
URL:
http://www.eods.eu/library/FR%20SIERRA%20LEONE%2020.02.2013_en.pdf
Accessed Date:
27 December 2017
Title:
Information on the Poro Society, including rituals and initation; ability to refuse initiation or leadership roles; availability of state protection (2015-July 2017)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
18 September 2017
URL:
http://irb-cisr.gc.ca/Eng/ResRec/RirRdi/Pages/index.aspx?doc=457213
Accessed Date:
29 January 2018
Title:
Les mariages forcés en Sierra Leone
Source:
France. Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides.
Date of Document:
6 December 2016
URL:
https://www.ofpra.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/atoms/files/1612_sle_mariages_forces_101849.pdf
Accessed Date:
27 December 2017
Title:
Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991 (reinst. 1996, rev. 2008)
URL:
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Sierra_Leone_2008?lang=en
Accessed Date:
26 January 2018
Title:
Government Rejection of Important Constitutional Review Recommendations a Missed Opportunity to Strengthen Human Rights Protection
Date of Document:
6 December 2017
URL:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/press-releases/2017/12/sierra-leone-government-rejection-missed-opportunity-to-strengthen-human-rights-protection/
Accessed Date:
26 January 2018
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National Documentation Packages (NDPs) include country-of-origin information that is publicly accessible at the time of publication and available within time constraints. While the Research Directorate strives to maintain the
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suggest documents they feel are relevant to the
NDP.
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IRB members (decision-makers) after considering the evidence and arguments presented by the parties.
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