Concord Times (Freetown)
4 August 2011
Freetown — The Sierra Leone Action Network on Small Arms (SLANSA) and the Sierra Leone Amputee Sports Club (SLASC) have sensitized the Cole Farm community through amputee football to mark the one-year celebration after the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) became international law.
The day was commemorated in the country with a thrilling amputee soccer clash at the Cole Farm playing field, Murray Town.
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines and the Cluster Munitions Coalition focal campaigner in Sierra Leone, Abu Bakarr Sheriff called on government to join the winning team as they intensify the fight against the fatalistic instruments of death.
He continued that, “the entry into force of the convention, exactly one year ago on Monday, started the clock ticking for states to destroy the cluster munitions stockpiles and clear contaminated land within the deadlines set by the convention”.
He disclosed that a total of 109 countries are now on board the Convention on Cluster Munitions, adding that in the last 12 months since it entered into force internationally, 21 countries that previous signed the treaty have ratified it, and one country has acceded (a one-step process of signing and ratifying).
Public relations officer of SLASC, Mustapha Wizzy Albert said his organization was grossly affected by the war and cluster bombs in particular, thus expressing the need to sustain peace in the country.
He assured that amputees will continue to support such initiatives and work with SLANSA at all times.
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SLANSA, SLASC Sensitize Cole Farm Community