Supporting 350 Female Detainees in Sierra Leone

Throughout this pandemic, AdvocAid has continued working with and supporting women and girls who have come in contact with the law. Our social workers give counselling to women who are detained while our paralegals provide legal support.

Forging collaborative relationships with our partners and stakeholders, such as the Sierra Leone Police, is an essential part of our work.

To improve COVID-19 preventative and protective measures in police stations, we provided much needed items such as veronica buckets, soap, hand sanitizers, as well as basics such as mattresses and pillows. These essentials support the police in improving the conditions of the women who are detained and reduce the risk of spreading infection. 

Our donations to police stations in Freetown was recently filmed and broadcasted by African Young Voices TV (AYV), a local television station in Sierra Leone. They filmed AdvocAid working to aid women in contact with the law and captured the reaction of the Superintendent at Waterloo Police Station. The Superintendent said that “it’s the first that we have received anything... for an organization in Freetown to come here and make this sort of donation... we are very much appreciating it.” 

With your support we are able to address the basic needs of marginalised women and girls, and build these vital working relationships with the police to be strong advocates for our clients and ensure the accountability needed to make longer-term improvements.

Look out for our upcoming social media post showcasing AYV’s coverage of our visit to the Waterloo Police Station.

Links:

• Our Ground-breaking Study on Female Imprisonment in Sierra Leone
• How COVID-19 Related Petty Offences Are Impacting Women's Rights
• Our Urgent Call On The Government to Reduce Prison Overcrowding

Whilst health facilities across the world are struggling to cope with the health demands of COVID 19, the healthcare of those detained is too often forgotten. In Sierra Leone, the first positive COVID-19 case in a correctional facility was confirmed at the end of April. AdvocAid is working hard to support efforts to slow down the spread of the virus and ensure the health of staff and detainees is protected throughout this pandemic. 

In May, the doctors at the prison health care unit Freetown had reached a point where it was difficult for them to continue taking care of patients due to a lack of funds and essential medical supplies. By working together with local businesses, AdvocAid was able to supply medicines, PPE, and other essential items to the unit. Thanks to these donations the staff at the facility were able to take complete vitals and administer all prescribed medications to their patients. Speaking a few days after receiving the donations, Dr Mansaray said, “No words can express how happy our staff and patients are currently. Our patients love the bed linens more than everything. They told us it helps restore some level of dignity in them”. 

Health is a fundamental human right for all and we are working hard to make sure no one is left behind. Thanks to your generous donations, we can ensure incarcerated women’s health is maintained during this time and help to reduce their risk of catching the virus. On behalf of all the women we work with, thank you.

Links:

• Join AdvocAid's Bomba Book Club
• Read about how AdvocAid is adapting during this pandemic