By Fatmata Jengbe
Last week Tuesday the Legal Aid Board held discussions with a team from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA) comprising Consultant, Battu Jambawai and the National Coordinator Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Response, Ramatu Kargbo on how to strengthen response mechanisms in the fight against SGBV.
The discussion took place at the Board’s head office at 27 Wilberforce Street in Freetown and was centered on working together to provide support to victims of SGBV through the deployment of the Board’s paralegals in each of the One-Stop Shop Centers. It was agreed that such would also involve capacity building for the Family Support Unit (FSU) of the Sierra Leone Police in handling SGBV Victims. The meeting came about following a request by the MoGCA for the Board to support its 18 one-stop centres it will be creating around the country. The centers will have a free SGBV hotline.
In her statement, the Executive Director of the Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles described the engagement as timely and needful. She recalled having a meeting with the Chief Justice, Honourable Justice Desmond Babatude Edwards where issues bordering on children in contact with the law in the midst of COVID-19 were discussed. She averred that currently, there are about 33 juveniles in detention facilities across the country and added that in the area of gender which was the main focus of her guests, the Board in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Police’s FSU and other partners have also launched a campaign against domestic violence as the country continues to witness an increase in abuses as it grapples with COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms. Carlton-Hanciles stated that “SGBV cases are serious issues”, adding that any partnership with the Board on this is welcomed. She averred that the Board’s role in these matters henceforth will be that of amicus-curiae, meaning holding the balance or being a friend of the court.
She intimated the gender officials on some of the challenges in prosecuting criminal matters of such nature, noting that having a one-stop centre is good but challenging in having all the professionals under one roof at all times, especially paralegals and medical doctors. She averred that the Board has limited number of paralegals and so will be constrained to deploy two each for two days a week in each of the 18 centres across the country.
She preferred the referral of cases to the Board where necessary, adding that mapping of resources in terms of Police Doctor, Pathologist, Legal Aid Counsel will enhance effective and timely investigations of SGBV matters. Ms. Carlton-Hanciles also urged the Gender Ministry to engage the Director of Public Prosecutions in order to shorten the time in proffering legal advice on SGBV matters. She concluded by requesting for a memorandum of understanding so as to spell out the parameters of the Board’s activities in the centres. She however asked them to make it flexible for her staff.
Responding, Madam Jambawai thanked the Executive Director and team, adding that she has already channeled some of the Board’s concerns to the Gender Minister which includes the difficulty in having two of its paralegals deployed in each centre for two days a week.
She averred that one of the problems the Ministry is faced with is that of inadequate personnel upcountry, adding that what they actually wanted from the Board is to provide guidance and direction to police officers investigating SGBV matters so that statements obtained and evidence adduced will be accurately packaged for prosecution.
She concluded that the Ministry will still welcome the idea of paralegals visiting the centres as and when needed to provide assistance to the investigations.
