The Ministry of Health and Sanitation launched three documents on Reproductive and Child Health programme on 7 November 2012. The documents included Reproductive, Newborn and Child Health (RNCH) Policy 2011-2015, RNCH Strategy 2011-2015 and a Strategic Plan for Adolescent and Young People’s Health & Development 2011-2015. The Acting Minister of Health and Sanitation Hon. Borbor Sawyerr launched the documents. State functionaries, UN agencies and other development partners, and health implementing partners attended the ceremony.

With the general elections only few weeks away, UNIPSIL Human Rights Section has conducted, in collaboration with the National Electoral Commission (NEC), three regional training workshops on full and effective political participation for persons with disabilities from 8th to 13th September. 106 participants with different types of disabilities were selected among registered voters from all districts and will be responsible to disseminate the knowledge acquired to their communities.

On the eve of the election campaign period, commencing on 17th October and ending on 15th November 2012, the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) commends the political parties and all other election stakeholders for the peaceful conduct of their activities and achieving important electoral milestones, including the voter registration and nomination of candidates. UNIPSIL is confident the same spirit of peaceful competition and dialogue will be exhibited by all during the electoral campaign period.

Sierra Leone launched its National Mental Health Policy and Strategic Plan at the commemoration of World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2012. The documents and the commemoration were launched by the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Mrs Sia Nyama Koroma in a function attended by government functionaries and non-state actors including UN agencies and other development partners, mental health advocates, the civil society and the media.