Supporting 350 Female Detainees in Sierra Leone

The story of Mabinty is the story of so many detained women in Sierra Leone that AdvocAid has worked with. Once they are detained, their families forget about them, leaving them without support. AdvocAid’s holisitc approach means we can provide psychological and welfare support to these women.

Mabinty is 20 years old, and has a 6 month old baby. She came into contact with the law in 2022 when she was arrested for house-breaking and larceny. While she was detained at the police station, the police officer called AdvocAid’s social worker and informed her that a woman needed AdvocAid’s support. 

Our social worker informed one of our paralegals, and together they went to the police station where they heard Mabinty’s story. 

Mabinty explain that on that fateful day, her baby fell sick. She was so scared that the baby could die, so she went running for help from house to house, asking for help. But all was in vain. When she reached this specific house she knocked on the door, and when it opened it pushed the pots that were behind it. A lady came from inside the house shouting "thief", followed by her brother who later claimed that someone had stolen 45,000 Leones the previous week, and concluded that it was her. They called the Police. 

During Mabinty’s detention, no family member visited, nor did any show any interest in standing as her surety (which would allow her bail), which really saddened her. She became very stressed thinking about the welfare of her baby, who she had not yet seen or talked to. During this time, AdvocAid’s social worker was undertaking family tracing to find someone to stand as surety for her. Initially, Mabinty’s family showed no interest in interacting with the social worker or visiting Mabinty at the Correctional Center. AdvocAid’s social worker persisted, and eventually Mabinty’s mother agreed to share her contact details for our social worker to give to Mabinty. 

Mabinty was so excited when she found she could now call her mother, and talk to her to know about her baby’s welfare. While her mother could not stand surety for her, she advised the social worker to reach out to Mabinty’s sister, who we’re now in contact with and seeking her support so that Mabinty can be granted bail ahead of her court case.

Knowing that Mabinty can hear how her baby is, and be in touch with her family, is such an important motivator for AdvocAid’s team. Your support allows us to continuously engage with the families of incarcerated women, so that while they’re in Sierra Leone’s Correctional Centres, their emotional wellbeing is protected. Thank you.

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