By Foday Moriba Conteh
One of the Civil Society Organizations that have been making meaningful contributions to nation building, LEGAL LINK, successfully celebrated its 4th anniversary on the 13th December 2022 and also gave an update about its 4th annual report in defence of the rights of religious communities and vulnerable groups in Sierra Leone.
The 10th of December every year marks the official anniversary of LEGAL LINK. Exceptionally this year, the organization commemorated its 4th anniversary this year on the 13th December 2022 because the 10th fell on a Saturday.
Just four years since its inception, the organization has become a household name in Sierra Leone receiving accolades and recognitions both locally and internationally for its revolutionary and impactful programmes.
During the celebration of its 4th anniversary which was attended by interns, lawyers, law students, civil society organisations and representatives from the religious communities and vulnerable groups, the Executive Director of LEGAL LINK, Rashid Dumbuya Esq, thanked God for making LEGAL LINK to see its 4th anniversary and to also celebrate it in grand style and with outstanding achievements and laurels to show for it.
He further explained in summary the myriad of activities undertaken by LEGAL LINK in 2022 as well as the great successes achieved.
In his brief explanation, the Executive Director of LEGAL LINK, Lawyer Rashid Dumbuya was able to inform the plenary about the interventions made by the organization to vulnerable groups such as disables, mental health patients, old people, orphans, abused women and children, labourers and human rights defenders amongst others.
In giving their remarks, the Executive Director of C4D, Marcus Bangura and the Executive Director of Citizens Advocacy Network (CAN), Thomas Moore Conteh Esq dilated on LEGAL LINK’s interventions on democracy, rule of law, justice and good governance issues in 2022.
According to them, LEGAL LINK stands out as one of the most credible civil society organizations in Sierra Leone that has continued to live up to the expectations of its mandate.
Several representatives from the religious communities, media, law students and vulnerable groups that witnessed the programme also expressed their thanks and appreciation for the good work LEGAL LINK has been doing over the past four years especially in defending their rights and given their lives true meaning and significance. They however appealed for LEGAL LINK to continue to build on this success in the coming years so that a culture of respect for human rights in Sierra Leone will be garnered and sustained.
The Executive Director assured the said representatives of LEGAL LINK’s continued support in 2022 and in the years to come.
Statements were also made by some of the legal interns of LEGAL LINK, expressing their gratitude to the Executive Director of the organization for the knowledge and mentorship impacted on them. They further thanked all those that supported LEGAL LINK over the years and appealed to the donor community to support the organization in 2022 so that it can do more to defend the rights of religious communities and vulnerable groups in Sierra Leone.
The programme ended up in a joyful party celebration in honour of LEGAL LINK’s fourth anniversary.
