By Morlai Sesay
In a major step to enhance his government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s justice system, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Retired Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio, on Thursday, 12th September 2024, officially launched the Justice Sector Reform Strategy of 2024-2030 at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown. President Bio emphasized the importance of modernizing Sierra Leone’s justice system to ensure it is fair, efficient, and accessible to all citizens. In his speech, the president highlighted several key initiatives, such as repealing and replacing the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965 with the new Criminal Procedure Act of 2024, training and appointing new court officials to enhance the judiciary’s effectiveness, speeding up the trial process to reduce case backlogs, strengthening the Legal Aid Board, and increasing the number of paralegals to support rural communities. The preceding reforms, he said, are part of a broader effort to improve access to justice and ensure that legal proceedings are fair and equitable for every Sierra Leonean, backed by the strategy to enhance the Justice Sector service delivery.
President Bio underscored that such a landmark event is a resounding preparation for his government’s unwavering commitment to the rule of law, the protection of human rights, and the promotion of justice for all Sierra Leoneans. According to the president, the highlighted commitments are not just a promise but a hiding principle that would shape every Sierra Leonean’s action going forward. “Justice is not just a concept but a cornerstone of stability and development in any society. A fair and accessible justice system is a bedrock upon which we can build trust in our institutions, foster social cohesion, and ensure that every citizen, regardless of their background, enjoys the protection under the law”, he asserted.
President Bio elucidated that the compelling priority of the New Direction government agender upon which he worked during his first term mandate was to advance the principle of the rule of law and promote justice and human rights. Over the years, the president admitted that Sierra Leone’s justice system has faced numerous challenges, ranging from limited resources to systematic inefficiencies and backlog of cases that have denied many Sierra Leoneans swift and fair justice, noting that the said challenges have influenced the urgent need for a comprehensive reform which is why he said, his government has taken the bold step towards addressing them. “The Justice Sector Reform Strategy launched today is a product of extensive consultations with stakeholders. It outlines clear objectives and actionable steps to transform our justice system into one that is more efficient, transparent, and responsive to the needs of the people. At the heart of this strategy is the principle of inclusivity because we believe citizens should be treated fairly and equally in criminal and civil proceedings. For our justice system to be truly effective, it must be accessible to all regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, or geographic location,” remarked President Bio. He underscored that his government is committed to eliminating historical barriers against marginalized communities and ensuring that the laws and legal processes of Sierra Leone are fair and equitable, stressing that his government is also committed to accountability and making sure that the nation’s justice is beyond reproach by enhancing and improving the capacity of judicial offices backed by making sure that corruption becomes unfashionable in every facet of Sierra Leone. He said, “Your confidence in our system is our utmost priority. The integrity of our justice system is non-negotiable, and we will work tirelessly to maintain the public’s confidence in its ability to deliver justice impartially. This strategy underscores the significance of collaboration since the challenges we face in reforming our justice sector cannot be addressed by the government alone.” President Bio maintained that his government would continue collaborating with international bodies, civil society groups, and all stakeholders. Hence, their involvement is crucial to ensure the reforms are productive and sustainable. He proudly stated that his government provides a proper framework for implementing the reform that began when he assumed the highest office in 2018. He noted that his government had built significant strides by introducing legislative and other sustainable measures to strengthen the justice delivery process in Sierra Leone, emphasizing that such landmark progress should give everyone hope for the future.
The performance rated President Bio concluded his speech by highlighting his administration’s achievements, such as abolishing the death penalty, a comprehensive revamp of the Criminal Procedures Act, enhanced access to justice for all, and investments in judicial infrastructure and training.
What is more, the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL), as one of the Justice Sector Institutions, participated in an exhibition to showcase its activities and human rights information materials in fulfilling one of its functions as stipulated in Section 7 (2) (b) (ii) of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone Act (2004).
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