By Sulaiman Jalloh
Executive Director of Legal Aid Board, Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles, has said that over two million citizens have received free legal representation from the free legal assistance institution over the years.
Madam Carlton-Hanciles was speaking at a government press briefing on Tuesday, May 7th, 2024, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s conference hall in Freetown.
Legal Aid Board was established in 2012 with the responsibility to provide free legal aid services for the poor, including legal representation, advice, assistance, legal and community outreach, alternative dispute resolution, among others.
The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board noted that her institution has demonstrated an incredible achievement by providing access to justice and legal assistance to citizens. “This institution has implemented innovative initiatives, such as creating accounts for child support which is truly inspiring,” she said.
She emphasized that it is worth noting that the Legal Aid Board’s work goes beyond just providing legal representation in court but also engage in community education and awareness campaigns, thus help to inform people about their rights and how to access legal assistance. She noted that the community engagement helps to create awareness about the available resources and how they can navigate the legal system.
Madam Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles added that her institution has won thirty percent of criminal cases and seventy percent of civil cases, saying other cases are on appeal, especially cases from Kono district.
Providing legal assistance to the most vulnerable members of society, Legal Aid Board work also aligns with international human rights standards which emphasize the importance of ensuring access to justice for all. For example, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals include specific targets related to access to justice and the promotion of the rule of law.
She said the implementation of most of their initiatives like the one for child support, while assuring their dedication to addressing complex social issues that arise from legal matters.
The importance of the work of Legal Aid Board cannot be overemphasized, especially in a poor nation like Sierra Leone where poverty, illiteracy, and gender inequality can create barriers to accessing justice.
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Monday, May 13TH, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
