By Thabile Cele | Project Leader
The arbitrary arrest and imprisonment of individuals by the police constitute a significant human rights issue within Sierra Leone's criminal justice system. In many cases, those incarcerated find themselves deprived of justice even when their rights are violated. Nevertheless, AdvocAid's paralegals recently illustrated their vital role in assisting women and girls in securing justice.
Fatu (name changed for anonymity), a 25-year-old single mother, works as a cashier at a local foreign exchange bureau, where she conducts various financial transactions. On weekends, Fatu would bring the remaining cash home for safekeeping, placing it in the side drawer of her bed. During one such weekend, her partner visited her. To her surprise, the following Monday, she woke up to discover that her partner had departed without notice, leaving her locked inside, and the cash missing. Neighbours had to unlock the door to free her. When she reported the incident to her supervisor, he doubted her and instead went to the police station to file a case against her.
Despite Fatu's persistent claims of innocence regarding the missing money, her boss insisted that she either repay the sum or face detention. It was during one of AdvocAid's routine visits to the police station that one of their paralegals learned of Fatu's predicament and intervened. After extensive questioning of Fatu, it was revealed that her partner was a wanted individual.
AdvocAid's paralegal facilitated mediation and successfully persuaded Fatu's boss to drop the charges against her. Subsequently, Fatu cooperated with the authorities in locating her partner, who was apprehended a few days later with the assistance of community members.
Fatu's case serves as a compelling example of AdvocAid's crucial role in ensuring access to justice, particularly for women and girls who often find themselves entangled in a biased criminal justice system.
We extend our gratitude to the generous donors of GlobalGiving. Your contributions enable us to intervene in such cases and maintain a team of paralegals who respond promptly to assist women through our legal services.
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