Thousands still remain in slavery.
Boy soldiers are however released in greater number. Some 355 of the freed children were combatants, while the remainder had been separated from their families due to abduction, displacement and other effects of the civil war. Sierra Leoneans place a high value on education. Providing access to education can be an important strategy for preventing further conflict and also in promoting reconciliation. If there is to be peace in Sierra Leone, we must find a way to fulfil the right of every child in Sierra Leone to a quality basic education.