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Showing posts from February 23, 2016

The Legal Aid Board Sierra Leone has held a maiden meeting with Executives of the Inter Religious Council Sierra Leone,

The Legal Aid Board Sierra Leone has held a maiden meeting with Executives of the Inter Religious Council Sierra Leone, highlighting terms of partnership and other issues. The meeting took place at the offices of the Inter Religious Council of Sierra Leone, Walpole Street in Freetown. In a power point presentation, the Executive Director, Legal Aid Board Sierra Leone, Mrs Clare Carlton-Hanciles informed the Inter Religious Council Executives of the activities and achievements of the Board. She said that the Board has the mandate to give free legal representation to indigent in the 149 chiefdoms in Sierra Leone, and that the Board is independent. She also gave the statistics of cases spanning September 2015 to February 2016. Rev Usamn J. Fornah and other members of the Inter Religious Council expressed their delight at the amazing work the Board has done considering the very short time the had existed, and pledged their uncompromised support for the work of the Board.

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.