The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata
Claire Carlton-Hanciles has called for closer cooperation with the Sierra Leone
Correctional Service to promote access to justice for children.
‘The Correctional Service officers need to share information
with our Paralegals regarding children in their custody so that we can provide
them legal assistance,’ she said. ‘We wouldn’t know if the information is not
made available to us because we do not expect children to be kept in
correctional centers meant for adults.’
Ms. Calton-Hanciles made the call following the decision of
the Correctional Service authorities in Kono not to admit children into the
adult correctional center. This means child suspects refused bail will now have
to be transported to Bo or Freetown, the only places with a remand home in the
country.Ms. Calton-Hancileswant those in other centers around the country to
follow suit.
Ms. Calton-Hanciles said that unlike adults who are subjected
to the ‘Means Test’, children benefit from the scheme without any precondition.
‘Those kept in remand homes have benefited from the Board without any delay
because our paralegals visits the homes regularly and inform the Juvenile
Lawyer who represents them in court.’
The Board has incorporated peace messages into its school
outreach programmes. These messages
will empower children so that they are not used by unscrupulous politicians to
wreck violence. This includes things to watch out for to avoid being used. This
includes free alcohol, marijuana and other drugs. Also, those who are below
eighteen should not attend rallies, while those who are above eighteen should
attend small rallies during the day.
Ms. Calton-Hanciles also disclosed that the Board will be
providing legal assistance to children involved in election related violence
and therefore want to have the Correctional Service officers on board to
provide information as and when children are arrested.
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