By Joanna Howarth | Communications Lead
On behalf of all of the women and girls supported by AdvocAid, thank you so much for the donation you have made towards the legal aid, literacy classes and critical welfare support we provide to vulnerable girls and women detained in prisons across Sierra Leone.
Between January and March 2015, our Duty Counsel Lawyers and Legal Officer have represented 48 women in court whilst our paralegals have supported an additional 234 women with legal assistance and advice. This means that since this campaign started, we’ve provided critical legal aid services to 1,225 women in Sierra Leone.
Since your donation, Sierra Leone has faced numerous challenges caused by the Ebola epidemic, including the declaration of a State of Emergency resulting in the closure of schools and reduced access to prisons. As a result of the declaration of the State of Emergency, a number of laws have been amended, resulting in a ban on public assemblies, reduced trading hours, curfews in some areas and periodic ‘lockdowns’. These rules were aimed at curbing the Ebola outbreak. Unfortunately, they have also created a heightened sense of fear resulting in an increased number of arrests.
At AdvocAid, we see that we have a very clear role during this very difficult time in Sierra Leone to ensure human rights are maintained, the law is upheld and that the powers enforced during the State of Emergency are done so legitimately. As such, AdvocAid’s Paralegals, Duty Counsel Lawyers, Legal Officer and Executive Director have continued to deliver vital legal support to women in conflict with the law, at a time when many organisation’s have had to withdraw their front line services.
Our Paralegal for Sierra Leone’s Western Area is Namsa Thoronka. With a population of almost 1.5 million, the Western Area is densely populated and includes the country's capital, Freetonw. Subsequently, it contains extremes of the very wealthy and very poor. One case Namsa has worked on in the past three months is that of Fatmata (name changed to protect identity), a 37 year old mother of three.
Fatmata was charged with the offence of Conspiracy House Breaking and Larceny. Arrested in February, Fatmata was detained at the Congo Cross Police Station before being charged to the Pademba Road Magistrate Court. Her alleged offence was connected to her job as a house keeper for Mrs Jones (name changed to protect identity). Mrs Jones’ apartment was broken into, and she alleged that 18 million Leones worth of cash and items was missing from her home (equivalent to £2680 or $4141 USD). Fatmata was charged for the offence.
According to Fatmata, a lady claiming to be the daughter of a very good friend of Mrs Jones’ had come to the house to see Mrs Jones. Fatmata showed her into the waiting room, from where this lady made a call telling Fatmata that Mrs Jones needed her at Congo Cross. Fatmata duly left for Congo Cross, but after waiting for some time, with no sign of Mrs Jones, she decided to return home, where she called her employer to see why she hadn’t arrived for their meeting. Mrs Jones confirmed she hadn’t sent for anyone and that her friend’s daughter lives in America. It was then that Fatmata realised the house had been burgled.
As Fatmata’s paralegal, Namsa has ensured that all relevant paper work has been filed and that Fatmata has had all required legal advice. In mid-March, following several prosecution witnesses testifying in court, the magistrate gave his ruling that the prosecution had proven this case beyond all reasonable doubt. The matter has since been committed to the court without bail.
Fatmata is presently detained at a female correctional center awaiting indictment.
For women like Fatmata, AdvocAid offers vital support during detention. We provide welfare supplies such as clothing and sanitary items. These are all the more important at the moment, as Ebola imposed travel restrictions mean many detainees are receiving no visitors and subsequently no welfare support. We also offer legal education to these women to ensure they have a stronger understanding of the law. We cover topics such as: sentence, bail, the rights of a suspect when arrested, going to court and AdvocAid’s legal services. This education is undertaken at each prison we work with; in March, our Makeni Paralegal provided such education and training to 19 female detainees. We also offer counseling on how to cope with and manage situations in the future.
Sierra Leone will continue to be affected by the Ebola epidemic, long after the last case is confirmed and the State of Emergency is lifted. AdvocAid’s work will be needed more than ever, as the country tries to piece itself back together again and courts resume to full operational capacity.
We’d be very grateful if you’d consider continuing to support our work to ensure we can reach as many women as possible, and enable them to have increased legal support, a fair trial and legal education to ensure they know and can assert their rights in the future.
Thank you for your generous support.
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By Simitie Lavaly | Executive Director
By Sabrina Mahtani | Project Leader
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