Building feminist lawyers in Sierra Leone

In January 2025, AdvocAid welcomed a new Fellow through - Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ), -Clooney Foundation for Justice is a human rights institution that advocates for justice through accountability for human rights abuses throughout the world. Under the CFJ Waging Justice for Women programme 2025. AdvocAid welcomed a Legal Fellow Ms. Francess Gbegbai. Ms. Gbegbai provided pro bono legal representation and assistance to women and girls in within Sierra Leone who come in contact with the Law, contributing to AdvocAid's work and ensuring that the rights of women and girls in Sierra Leone are respected. She also advocated for legal reforms that not only protect women’s right but recognises and enhances a gender-responsive justice system. The significance of this partnership continues to be of relevance to our work because we can better provide efficient and prompt response to daily issues that may arise with the support of an additional in-house lawyer. The Waging Justice for Women initiative goal sits well with AdvocAid’s work as it provides an enabling platform to empower early career women Lawyers to fight against systemic failures and injustice faced by women and girls. Through advocacy and strategic litigation AdvocAid’s seeks to redress discriminatory laws and practices affecting women and girls as well as increase awareness for gender-based abuse. The work undertaken by Ms. Gbegbai has contributed to strengthening feminist lawyering within AdvocAid as an organisation and Sierra Leone as a whole. In line with AdvocAid’s strategic direction to provide access to justice for women and girls within Sierra Leone, the Legal Fellow took on cases advancing the rights of girls. She is passionately involved in continued advocacy for ‘’” Sallay” ‘’ (not her real name) who was forced into child marriage at age 11 with a man over twenty times her age who already had other wives and children. “ Sallay” like millions of girls across Africa have encountered sexual and domestic abuse. “ Sallay” had attempted to break free of a marriage that exposed her to further abuse and harm, but her attempt was futile as her family returned her back by her family. In a final cry for help, she accidentally pushed a child of one of the co-wives down a water well. The child did not survive the fall and “Sallay” was arrested and charged with murder. ‘’” Sallay”’’ was later convicted of murder and have since been incarcerated since. Early in 2024, AdvocAid, with support from IHRDA, instituted an action at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice against the Republic of Sierra Leone for failing to protect “ Sallay” from child marriage and the abuses and violations of her right. Pending the Ecowas Court Judgment, in 2025 “ Sallay” was granted amnesty. With the support provided by the Legal Fellow, AdvocAid an interim care assessment was undetaken together with “ Sallay” and the relevant stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition from incarceration to reintergration. With support recieved through a donation like this, AdvocAid have also continued to provide psycho-social and other welfare support needed by “ Sallay”. Ms. Gbegbai has engaged in continued advocacy to strengthen the framework on prevention of harm to girls and ending child marriage. From 1st -4th October 2025, she attended an event organized by Girls Opportunity Alliance Network through the Obama Leadership Program held in Mauritius. Ms. Gbegbai led discussions on the impact of child marriage to Women and girls in Africa and the need for collaboration and advocacy beyond litigation. During this conference Ms. Gbegbai also interacted with women lawyers across Africa with shared passion to end child marriage. There are many girls like “ Sallay” who have been forced into early mariages as economic securities for their families which is harmful to the growth and empowerment of women in Africa. As such there is the need to have more female lawyers to contribute to advancing the rights of women and girls in Sierra Leone legal advocating for legal reforms and a gender responsive system. At AdvocAid, we value each donation as your donation signifies your belief in our cause and willingness to transform the narrative of women and girls. Thank you for your continued support and we encourage you to keep contributing to this cause.