AdvocAid Sierra Leone

21/08/2026

𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞

Meet Maqaman Sheriff, MEAL Officer at AdvocAid.

Data can tell us more than how many cases are recorded. It can help us understand the circumstances that bring women into contact with the justice system, the barriers they face, and where early intervention can make a difference.

As part of our 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬, 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 series, Mahammud shares what AdvocAid’s data reveals about women’s experiences of justice and the importance of looking beyond the courtroom.

🎧 Listen to Mahammud’s reflection.

18/08/2026

𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞

Meet Rolanda Kondeh, Waging Justice for Women (WJW) Legal Fellow at AdvocAid.

In this reflection, Rolanda shares what her work has taught her about the importance of women and girls knowing their rights, and the role legal awareness can play in helping women understand, claim, and exercise those rights.

🎧 Listen to Rolanda’s reflection.

Clooney Foundation for Justice

13/08/2026

𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲.

The 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 introduced important protections around equality and access to customary land in Sierra Leone, including recognising women’s equal rights to own, hold, use, inherit and manage land under customary law.

For generations, discriminatory practices have limited many women’s ability to participate fully in decisions around land and resources. Strengthening women’s land rights is therefore an important part of advancing gender equality and economic empowerment.

When women have secure rights to land, they can have greater opportunities to build livelihoods, support their families, and participate in decisions that shape their futures.

Understanding what the law protects is an important first step towards ensuring those rights are recognised and upheld.

𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬. 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝. 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫.

11/08/2026

11/08/2026

𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.

The 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐆𝐄𝐖𝐄) 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 represents an important step forward in strengthening protections and opportunities for women and girls in Sierra Leone.

The Act addresses key areas including women’s participation in decision-making, economic empowerment, and equality of opportunity.

Laws provide an important foundation for change, but meaningful progress depends on more than what is written on paper. It also requires awareness, effective implementation, and accountability.

When women understand the protections available to them, they are better equipped to recognise their rights, advocate for themselves, and demand the equality they deserve.

𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬. 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫.

06/08/2026

𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲.

From 27–29 July 2026, AdvocAid’s Acting Executive Director Jalahan Amara Jakema participated in a specialized Training of Trainers Workshop organised by Amnesty International Sierra Leone, alongside civil society organisations and human rights advocates committed to strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights.

The workshop covered several key national laws, including the 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐆𝐄𝐖𝐄) 𝐀𝐜𝐭, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐.

Participants also explored disability inclusion through discussions on equality, equity, accessibility, disability etiquette, and the barriers that continue to prevent many people from fully participating in society.

For AdvocAid, continuous learning is an essential part of advancing access to justice. Strengthening our knowledge enables us to better advocate for the rights of women, girls, and marginalised communities while contributing to a more inclusive Sierra Leone where no one is left behind.

05/08/2026

𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲.

In July, as part of the 𝐖𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 (WJW) Fellowship implemented by the Clooney Foundation for Justice in partnership with AdvocAid Sierra Leone, AdvocAid’s Legal Fellow 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐡 conducted a rights-based outreach session at the 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 on 10 July 2026.

The outreach engaged children in conflict with the law on the importance of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) as a fundamental human right and highlighted its connection to children’s rights to health, education, dignity, development, and an adequate standard of living.

Through interactive discussions, participants explored the importance of knowing their rights and were reminded of a powerful message: children do not lose their rights when they come into contact with justice systems.

At AdvocAid, we believe justice extends beyond legal representation. It includes legal education, rights awareness, and creating spaces where children are supported, respected, and empowered to see possibilities beyond their current circumstances.

Rolanda Kondeh

04/08/2026

Last month, AdvocAid’s 𝐖𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 (WJW) Legal Fellow, 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐡, conducted an outreach session at 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐡 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 (𝐀𝐌𝐖𝐒) and 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 (𝐕𝐌𝐒𝐒𝐆), engaging students on education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and the rights of girls to learn in safe, inclusive, and supportive environments.

Education is more than attending school. It is a fundamental human right that empowers girls to make informed choices, claim their rights, and shape their futures.

The session explored the important connection between WASH and education, highlighting how access to clean water, safe sanitation facilities, and proper menstrual hygiene management can affect girls’ ability to remain in school and participate fully in their education.

Beyond discussing rights, students were encouraged to believe in their abilities, speak up against injustice, and become positive agents of change within their schools and communities.

At AdvocAid, we believe that protecting the rights of women and girls starts long before they enter the justice system. It starts with education, awareness, and creating spaces where young people are empowered to use their voices.

Rolanda Kondeh

31/07/2026

Justice is not only found inside courtrooms.

It is also reflected in the choices we make as communities:
• How we support survivors.
• How we educate young people.
• How we create opportunities.
• How we protect dignity.

Preventing injustice requires collective action. It means creating environments where women and girls are supported, protected, and able to access the opportunities and resources they need.

A fairer future begins before a crisis happens.

If justice begins before the courtroom, what role do we all have in preventing injustice?

📸 One Village Partners

29/07/2026

For many women, contact with the justice system is not the beginning of their struggle.

It may come after experiences of violence, abuse, exploitation, or control.

Understanding this reality changes how we think about justice.

A woman’s story does not begin at arrest. Her story includes everything that came before.

Creating safer communities means addressing violence early, supporting survivors, and ensuring women can access protection and justice.

How can we support women before they reach a point of crisis?

📸: National Geographic