Human Rights Watch makes the following recommendations:
To the RUF:
Human Rights Watch condemns in the strongest terms the conduct of RUF forces described in this report. We call on RUF forces to:
_ Immediately refrain from inflicting torture or murder of any kind, including extrajudicial executions and mutilations, by forces under its command.
_ Immediately release all civilian abductees in custody; grant full and ongoing access to detention centers to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other humanitarian organizations; and publish lists of all prisoners and abductees, their ages, where they were captured, where they are being detained, and other relevant details.
_ Immediately cease the recruitment and training of child soldiers under the age of eighteen and demobilize and release those already enlisted.
_ Allow for unfettered access and safe passage for humanitarian agencies trying to reach needy populations under RUF control.
_ Observe the cease-fire agreement entered into on May 18, 1999, desist from all acts in violation of international humanitarian law, and enter into negotiations for the resolution of the conflict in good faith.
_ In accordance with the commitment made to U.N. special representative Okelo, set up an internal investigation to investigate violations of international humanitarian law by members of RUF and allied forces, as described in this and other reports on the conflict in Sierra Leone.
_ Provide education for all RUF combatants and commanders on the rules of war and standards of international humanitarian law.
_ Follow through with the commitment made on May 18, l999 in Lomé, Togo, by Corporal Foday Sankoh, for the Aimmediate release of all prisoners of war and noncombatants.
_ Follow through with the commitment made and signed on May 18, l999 in Lomé, Togo by Corporal Foday Sankoh to Aguarantee safe and unhindered access by humanitarian organizations to all people in need, establish safe corridors for the provision of food and medical supplies to ECOMOG soldiers behind RUF lines, and to RUF combatants behind ECOMOG lines.
_ Permit full, unhampered international investigation of grave and widespread humanitarian law and human rights abuses in areas under RUF control by nongovernmental organizations and accredited journalists.
To the Government of Sierra Leone:
We call on the government of Sierra Leone to:
_ Thoroughly investigate and prosecute in full compliance with international law, individuals responsible for grave breaches of humanitarian law. Where combatants have committed abuses against civilians, they should be held accountable in a court of law.
_ Desist from the recruitment of child soldiers, particularly within the Civil Defense Forces, and to follow through on its commitments made to the special representative of the U.N. secretary-general for children in armed conflict to stop the recruitment of children under eighteen and to create a joint task force to oversee the demobilization and reintegration of child combatants from all sides.
_ Ensure that government soldiers and those forces allied with the government respect the human rights of civilians in areas of conflict.
_ Ensure that all members of the new Sierra Leonean Army currently under formation receive formal education on the rules of war and standards of international humanitarian law.
_ Promptly revise the criminal code to eliminate the death penalty and corporal punishment.
_ Follow through with the commitment made and signed on May 18, l999 in Lomé, Togo, by President Kabbah for the Aimmediate release of all prisoners of war and noncombatants, while ensuring that reliable reports that individuals in custody have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity are investigated, and prosecutions instituted, as described above, if there is evidence to do so.
_ Follow through with the commitment made and signed on May 18, l999 in Lomé, Togo by President Kabbah to Aguarantee safe and unhindered access by humanitarian organizations to all people in need, establish safe corridors for the provision of food and medical supplies to ECOMOG soldiers behind RUF lines, and to RUF soldiers behind ECOMOG lines.
_ Follow through with the commitment announced by President Kabbah on April 27, l999 to establish a new Human Rights Commission for Sierra Leone.
_ Create task forces to:
_ develop a concrete plan for meeting the needs of abused women and deal specifically with violations inflicted on women during conflict, with the aim of improving the social, medical, and legal responses to women's needs.
_ deal with the effects of war on children: child victims, witnesses, and perpetrators. A key function of this task-force would be the development of a concrete plan for meeting the long-term needs of those who were adversely affected by the war. This task force should determine how best to reintegrate children into their communities, provide education and vocational training suitable for older children, and rehabilitate children who have been victims of atrocities, have witnessed atrocities (sometimes against their own parents), or have themselves taken part in atrocities.
_ address the special physical, psychological, and social needs of the thousands of victims of limb amputation and other mutilation.
_ Initiate a widespread information and education campaign to inform communities of the special needs of all civilians who have been abducted or abused.
_ Allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unhindered and ongoing access to all detainees, including those who are currently being investigated but have not been charged with a crime.
To ECOMOG/ECOWAS:
Human Rights Watch urges ECOMOG and ECOWAS, as appropriate, to:
_ Take steps to strengthen and make effective the Civil/Military Relations Committee formed to probe allegations of human rights abuses committed by some members of ECOMOG and the CDF.
_ In particular, and in accordance with the commitment made to the U.N. secretary-general's special representative, Francis Okelo, and noted in the March 4, l999, Fifth Report of the Secretary General on the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone, investigate allegations of abuses having been committed during the January offensive and take corrective action as necessary.
_ Follow through with the commitment made and signed on May 18, l999 in Lomé, Togo, for the Aimmediate release of all prisoners of war and noncombatants, while ensuring that reliable reports that individuals in custody have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity are investigated by the appropriate authorities, and prosecutions instituted if there is evidence to do so.
_ Follow through with the commitment signed on May 18, l999 in Lomé, Togo, to AGuarantee safe and unhindered access by humanitarian organizations to all people in need, establish safe corridors for the provision of food and medical supplies to RUF soldiers behind ECOMOG lines.
_ Ensure that all ECOMOG officers and soldiers receive proper training in the rules of war and international humanitarian law.
To the International Community:
Human Rights Watch urges the international community generally, including the U.N., its member states, and agencies, to:
_ Dramatically increase the level of attention and resources devoted to the resolution of the conflict in Sierra Leone and the establishment of respect for human rights and the rule of law, including by increasing the financial support given to UNOMSIL to enable an expansion of its human rights monitoring and peacekeeping activities.
_ Oppose a general amnesty that would apply to those who have committed gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law and insist on the need for the cycle of impunity to be broken if peace is to be restored to Sierra Leone.
_ Reinforce the flow of bilateral and multilateral aid to the government of Sierra Leone. This aid should focus on human rights and humanitarian needs, including restructuring of the army and police force, and initiatives focusing on such key areas as emergency relief, health, education, shelter, infrastructure, and the rule of law.
_ In particular, provide assistance for the reconstruction of the system for the administration of justice, and for other initiatives aimed at the establishment of accountability for crimes under national and international law.
_ Provide moral, financial, and technical support to civil society organizations to assist them in playing an active role in the transition toward a democratic society and in monitoring, lobbying, and campaigning for improved human rights standards.
_ Insist that the government of Sierra Leone follow up on its commitments to stop the recruitment of children under the age of eighteen and to create a joint task force to oversee the demobilization and reintegration of child combatants from all sides.
_ Insist with all parties upon the access for accredited journalists and nongovernmental organizations to all areas of conflict.
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