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Showing posts from November 30, 2015

President Koroma launches the Legal Aid Board

President Koroma launches the Legal Aid Board H.E. President Dr. Earnest Bai Koroma “This has been a long wait for all of us. It is a commitment of my government and I am sure there is great expectation out there.” With these few words, President Dr. Ernest Koroma launched the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board (LAB) while holding up the maiden edition of the Board’s newsletter. The ceremony took place on 19 December 2015 at the Miata Conference Centre, Youyi Building where hundreds of civil society members drawn mostly from the Motor Drivers Union, Bike Riders Association, Petty Traders Association and the Market Women Association had converged to celebrate a new dawn in making justice accessible to the poor, and to also say thank you to the Legal Aid Board. Members of these organizations make up the majority of beneficiaries of the Board since it commenced operations in May 2015. President Koroma reminded his audience that the establishment of the Legal Aid Board d

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

As a Lawyer who has practiced in Sierra Leone before joining the international tribunal, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, I have seen firsthand how accused persons had to endure countless adjournments and months on remand due to lack of legal advice and representation.

My experience working with the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board since its establishment in May 2015 has broadened my understanding of the depth of the challenges plaguing the formal and traditional justice systems.

I have visited overcrowded prisons and police cells around the country. I have seen many accused persons literally abandoned in prison either because they cannot secure a bail or have not been with an indictment. Some have spent more time in remand than the maximum sentence for the crimes they are alleged to have committed. I have seen victims of domestic violence, rape and discrimination on the basis of gender resort to divine intervention because they cannot afford the cost of accessing justice.

I have seen powerful self-styled local lawyers run the show in the local/traditional courts and in the process abuse the rights of people and the Local Court Act 2011.

We have engaged and canvassed the views of agencies in the justice sector, Parliamentarians and non-governmental organizations. The interest in and expectations of the organization are heartwarming but also breathtaking.

This is what drives our commitment to deliver on our mandate to make justice accessible to those who have been left out because they are poor. For a start, we will deploy Paralegals in Police Stations in the capital and the 149 chiefdoms in the country to monitor Local Courts to ensure their activities are consistent with national laws and international human rights standards. Also, we will hire 100 Lawyers to provide free legal services to our clients.

This is without doubt a tall order considering the organization is new and the resources at its disposal are far from being adequate. We are convinced with support from the government, donors and well-wishers we can make a world of difference in the lives of ordinary people and in the process contribute to restoring much needed confidence in the justice system.