Building feminist lawyers in Sierra Leone

In response to the multifaceted issues faced by women within Sierra Leone's legal system and the recognition of the necessity for an interdisciplinary approach, AdvocAid launched the Feminist Law Lecture Series in partnership with the University of Makeni (UNIMAK). This initiative aimed to challenge Law and Development Studies students to explore the intersection of their education with feminism and social justice, with a particular focus on their future roles as lawyers and advocates within society, especially in interactions with marginalised groups.

The lecture series spanned four weeks, attracting over 70 students who participated in a weekly two-hour sessions. The series was a critical step in embedding feminist legal principles into the academic environment, fostering a deeper understanding of gender justice among Sierra Leone’s future legal professionals.

Justice Abdulai O. Charm, Head of the Law Department at UNIMAK and former Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, welcomed the initiative, emphasising the importance of understanding laws related to gender equality. He highlighted the need for future legal practitioners to address these issues to contribute to a more equitable world. “We are excited that AdvocAid is here to lecture our students about gender issues. These are the current issues that we need to address if we want to have a well-developed world where everyone is equal,” said Justice Charm.

The Lecture Series covered a range of critical topics aimed at linking education with feminism and social justice. Juliet Mamawa Kaikai Esq. introduced students to Feminist Legal Theory, discussing feminism, gender roles, African feminism, and the Maputo Protocol, with an emphasis on using the law to advance gender justice. Willietta Hughes Esq. focused on the Maputo Protocol, highlighting its role in advancing women's rights in Africa and the need for supportive feminist law reforms. Saramba Kandeh Esq. explored International Human Rights Law and the importance of strategic litigation in promoting gender equality. Finally, Rebecca M. Kabejja provided an overview of the legislative process, explaining how bills are introduced in Sierra Leone's Parliament and the distinction between government and private member bills.

The Feminist Law Lecture Series will extend to other universities, aligning with AdvocAid’s 5-year feminist strategy. This partnership with academic institutions is crucial in fostering a deeper understanding of gender justice and contributes to building a generation of feminist lawyers in Sierra Leone who are advocates for social justice.

The series concluded with an open writing competition and an oral submission on topics that the students dealt with and offered full tuition fees for the next academic year to four winners—two from the Law Department and two from Development Studies. This initiative has laid a strong foundation for ongoing collaboration between AdvocAid and educational institutions, promoting feminist legal and policy reform in Sierra Leone.

“I found the feminist law lecture series to be engaging and informative. As a young budding feminist aspiring to be a lawyer, I welcome more initiatives like this on our campus,” said Esther Kamara, a Law student at UNIMAK.

We continue to thank our donors. It is because of you that we are able to do provide a platfrom that allows students to have a deeper understanding of gender justice and continue to advance our mission.

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