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PROJECTS
THE JUVENILE JUSTICE PROJECT The Lawyers Centre for Legal Assistance launched a Juvenile Justice Project in August 2004. The Project which is entitled "Legal Protection of Juveniles and Promotion of Juvenile Justice in Sierra Leone have the following objectives:
The Project will run initially for one year and may be extended for a further period. The Centre publishes a quarterly Newsletter - JUVENILE VOICE, the purpose of which is to inform the general public, especially Human Rights Activists and Child Rights Advocates, about the work of the Centre in Protecting Juveniles in conflict with the Law in particular and its work for and on behalf of Juveniles in general.
Through its Access to Justice Project, the Lawyers Centre in partnership with Global Rights (formerly International Human Rights Law Group) decided to Train Community based persons on a range of Legal issues faced by their Communities on a daily basis. The concept of Community based persons been Trained as Paralegals is borne out of the fact that Lawyers are not able to adequately provide Legal Services to the Rural Urban poor because primarily their number is grossly inadequate in relation to the population of the Country. Even their geographical distribution is such that the majority of Lawyers in Sierra Leone can only be found in big towns. There are also problems such as language and distance which makes Lawyers in Sierra Leone very inaccessible to the ordinary person. Between February and May 2004, LAWCLA and Global Rights Trained about 120 Paralegals in Kono, Kailahun and Kabala Districts. Both Institutions also developed a "Handbook for Paralegals in Sierra Leone". This book which is serving as a quick source of reference for Paralegals in Sierra Leone contains seven chapters including the Role of a Paralegal, Powers of Police and the rights of the Accused, Women's Rights, the Family and Domestic Violence, Property Rights, Succession and Inheritance, Children's Rights, Sources of Law, the Court System and the Legal Process, Local Governance and Powers of Local Councils. The Centre intends to Train Paralegals in other districts in Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone maintains the Death Penalty in its Statute books for very serious offences such as Treason and Murder, in spite of its obligations under International Law and the recommendations of its Truth and Reconciliation Commission to abolish the Death Penalty. The Centre through this unfunded Project is advocating for the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Sierra Leone through research and consultations with different stakeholders. The Centre is also providing free Legal Advise and Representation through out the Country to Indigent Individuals charged with offences for which the punishment is death. THE PRISONERS RIGHTS PROJECT The Lawyers Centre for Legal Assistance Prisoners Rights Project was initially launched in August 2002 and entailed data collection, Legal Advice and Representation of Detainees and Prisoners throughout Sierra Leone. The data collection exercise was funded by the Department of Foreign and International Development (DFID) through the British Council in Freetown. The Legal Advice and Representation aspect of the Project was funded by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). Phase one of the Project ended in June 2003 and phase two commenced in July 2003, funded by OSIWA. Under this Project the Centre through its Head Office and three Regional Offices provides free Legal Advice and Representation to Indigent Detainees and Prisoners throughout the Country. The Centre publishes a Bi-Monthly Newsletter entitled BEHIND BARS which informs the general public about its work on behalf of individuals incarcerated in Polices Stations and Prison in Sierra Leone. The publication also advocates for Reform of the Penal System in Sierra Leone thereby ensuring that, the rights of Detainees and Prisoner's are recognized and protected. THE LEGAL AID BOARD PROJECT The Right to Legal Aid (Free Legal Services) by Indigent individuals is recognized by International and Foreign Law and reflected in the Provisions of Section 28(5) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone. This Section provides "that Parliament shall made provision-
This right has not been realized in practice as parliament has not enacted a Legislation establishing a Legal Aid Board. The result is that thousands of individuals go through the Criminal Justice System every year unrepresented, save for the few in Major Towns that benefit from free Legal Services from our Centre. It is pertinent to note that it is the responsibility of the Government of Sierra Leone to provide free Legal Services to poor Individuals and not the responsibility of any Institution Association or firm. The Centre through this Project is Advocating for the establishment of a Legal Aid Board in Sierra Leone. The Centre has already completed a Research on the need for the establishment of a Legal Aid Board in Sierra Leone. A recommended draft statute of a Legal Aid Board is attached to the Research document for consideration by parliament for enactment. After publishing the Research Document, the Centre will hold consultations with different stake holders, with the ultimate aim of ensuring that a Legal Aid Board is established. |
