By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Lawyers Advocating for Women and Youth Empowerment and Rights in Society (L.A.W.Y.E.R.S.) has entered a new leadership era with the election of Menisa Sesay Esq. as Chairperson and President for the 2025–2027 term. The announcement was made at the organization’s Annual General Meeting held on Friday, September 19, at the Bintumani Hall in Aberdeen.
The full executive elected to serve alongside her includes:
- Vice-President: Cecilia Ajoke Thomas
- Secretary: Davida Peacock Sawyer
- Deputy Secretary: Sally Yeama Myers
- Treasurer: Kadiatu Osal Gbla
- Deputy Treasurer: Miltonia Conteh
- Public Relations & Organizing Secretary: Melford Vincent
- Deputy Public Relations & Organizing Secretary: Isha Sheerefay Kamara
- Auditor I: Mariama Ruth Jacinta Jaysid-Sankoh
- Auditor II: Caroline Sesay
Founded on February 14, 1997, L.A.W.Y.E.R.S. has become one of Sierra Leone’s pioneering female-led legal organizations dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of women and girls. The group has played a central role in shaping landmark legal reforms, including the Child’s Rights Act (2007), the Domestic Violence Act (2007), and the Sexual Offences Act (2012). It also made significant contributions during the Constitutional Review Process and continues to push for the establishment of a Forensic Analysis Crime Detection Agency (FACDA) to bolster the justice system.
Beyond legal reforms, the organization has been at the forefront of advocacy and community action. From supporting the First Lady’s campaign to end child marriage to providing humanitarian and legal aid during the Ebola crisis, L.A.W.Y.E.R.S. has consistently demonstrated its commitment to both national and grassroots empowerment.
Delivering the keynote address at the AGM, Deputy Minister of Justice, Madam Saptieu Elizabeth Saccoh, reaffirmed the Government’s determination to entrench gender justice through bold reforms. Speaking under the theme “Beyond Reform: Entrenching Gender Justice Through Systemic Change,” she described L.A.W.Y.E.R.S. as “a family and lighthouse guiding us through the murky waters of injustice.”
Madam Saccoh highlighted progress such as the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, which mandates a 30% quota for women in leadership. “We did not ask for a seat; we demanded a third of the chairs,” she declared to resounding applause.
She further revealed ongoing reviews of Section 27 of the 1991 Constitution to close loopholes that still leave women vulnerable. Additionally, she noted that the repeal of petty offences now before Cabinet is a crucial step toward dismantling laws that disproportionately punish poor and marginalized women.
On sexual and gender-based violence, the Deputy Minister reaffirmed Government’s zero-tolerance policy, pointing to the Sexual Offences Act, the establishment of a Model Court, and the Criminal Procedure Act 2024 as instruments that ensure victims’ courage is matched with swift justice. “The legislation we pass is only as strong as the hands that enforce it. You are the custodians of this new era,” she told members, quoting Winnie Mandela: “If you are to free yourselves, you must break the chains of oppression yourselves. Any acceptance of humiliation is acceptance of inferiority.”
In her acceptance remarks, Menisa Sesay emphasized that her presidency is not about occupying a title but about service, transformation, and amplifying women’s voices in the legal sector. “L.A.W.Y.E.R.S is not just an organization; it is a movement, a force of change and a platform for growth. It is where advocacy meets action, where sisterhood meets collaboration, and where the voices of women shape the future of law and justice,” she declared.
She outlined her leadership vision under six pillars:
- Amplifying Advocacy – strengthening legal interventions and protections against harassment and discrimination.
- Mentorship & Leadership – launching a Women in Law Fellowship Program to empower the next generation.
- Wellness & Safety – creating a wellness taskforce and safe reporting systems, ensuring that “health is justice.”
- Community Legal Outreach – expanding “Know Your Rights” campaigns and digital advocacy platforms.
- Transparent & Inclusive Leadership – fostering member participation through forums and open budgeting.
- Visibility & Growth – expanding membership and showcasing women’s leadership in law and society.
With Sesay at the helm, expectations are high that the organization will deepen its advocacy for women’s empowerment, expand youth mentorship, and continue pushing for systemic reforms. Her election, coming at a time of renewed Government commitment to gender justice, signals stronger partnerships between civil society and state institutions.
As L.A.W.Y.E.R.S. embarks on this new chapter, Sesay’s rallying call to members echoed the organization’s enduring mission: “If you believe, like I do, that the law should protect—not exclude; that justice should uplift—not silence; and that women must lead—not wait for permission, then let us move forward together.”
