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Legal Aid approves Guide to simplify operations


‘I would advise that after today’s workshop, steps would be taken to make the Guide a Statutory Instrument for it to have the force of law and bind all accredited legal aid providers. I would enjoin all participants to go through the draft Legal Aid Guide meticulously so as to make it a very good instrument in the furtherance of the work of the Board and the delivery of justice in our beloved country.’ Hon. Chief Justice, Abdulai Charm made these remarks at the endorsement meeting on the Legal Aid Guide held at the Cube Restaurant on Thursday, August 4.
The Chief Justice intimated that the Judiciary’s continued involvement and willingness to participate in the work of legal aid institutions is not accidental rather it is founded on a strong legal basis because Section 120 of the national Constitution confers all judicial power in Sierra Leone on the Judiciary which is headed by the Chief Justice.

The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles said the Guide will go a long way to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the work of the Board in terms of implementing the Act as it covers the processes and procedures of accessing legal aid. ‘This Guide will improve the delivery of legal aid and we are hearten the meeting on the endorsement of the document is taking place at a time when we are expanding our operations upcountry,’ Ms. Carlton-Hanciles said.’
She noted that the Guide has come a long way and seized the opportunity to thank the partners in the justice sector and organizations which participated in the workshops to review and finalize the Guide.   

The Chair of the Board, Justice Adeliza Showers described the Guide as an essential part of the operations of the Board. She thanked OSIWA for funding the workshop. She praised Ms. Memunatu Pratt for her immense support to the work of the Board.
The Country Officer of Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Joe Pemagbi said his organization will work with relevant actors to promote community based primary justice services across the country.
‘Our aim is to work with government through the Legal Aid Board, MDAs and non-governmental organizations to deploy paralegal and other community service providers to provide primary justice services in the country,’ Pemagbi said.  
He added that his organization will support the Legal Aid Board with developing Standard Operational Procedures and work with the Board to sign cooperation agreements and provide grant making support to non-governmental organizations providing services. He noted that his organization will support the popularization and distribution of the Guide to legal aid providers, stakeholders and communities after it has been passed into law.

Ms. Memunatu Pratt presented the Legal Aid Guide on behalf of the Technical Working Group which was set up to review the recommendations of the two-day validation workshop to finalize the Legal Aid Guide for the attention of the Board.
Ms. Pratt talked the participants through the recommendations which have been incorporated into the Guide. This includes the following:  The Board to decide on the establishment of a Guidance and Counselling programme, set up a Court Monitoring Team, paralegals and interpreters should be fluent in the local languages of their respective community to assist applicants to fill forms annexed to the guide, the Board to encourage young legal practitioners to work on behalf of the Board and an in-service training manual should be put together for paralegals and other legal aid organizations.
The meeting was climaxed with the endorsement of the Guide by the Board and management of the Guide after the consultant to the Board, Mr. Francis Gabbiddon talked them through the various parts of the draft Legal Aid Guide 2015.
 






By: Joseph Dumbuya.

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