By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, Aug 10 (232News) – Defence for Children International (DCI) in collaboration with Equality Now and Raves have ended two-day training for over 16 Judges and Magistrates in the Judiciary of Sierra Leone at the Hotel Barmoi, Aberdeen Freetown.
The essence of the training was to refresh their knowledge and skills on the application of laws, given the critical role they play in ending sexual violence by presiding over and making decisions that touch on these cases.
The aforementioned organizations believe that the trials of sexual offences can best be done if those involved in decision making have sufficient knowledge in not only the substance of the laws and procedures involved in adjudication but also the application of gender sensitivity ,the principle of best interest of the child , non-discrimination and non-stigmatization of victim and survivors.
While opening the training, the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Desmond Babatunde Edwards said it was a great pleasure to be opening yet another training for judges in the judiciary, noting that it showed the judiciary was making headway when it came to professionalism.
He said they had also organised couple of trainings, noting that those trainings will serve as positive impact for the judiciary.
Justice Edwards said when it came to the helm as Chief Justice , the conviction rate was below 5% adding that as if now they have been tremendous progress with a conviction of 34%• He said even though such progress has been made , but said there is room for improvement. He ended up applauding the support of Equality Now, whom he said has been one of their reliable partners.
In his statement the Executive Director of Defence for Children International, Abdul Manaff Kemokai said together with Equality Now and Wave has been working in a project to improve access to justice of victims or survivors.
He said the aforesaid reason has been the goal of the project, noting that as organization they are mostly looking into gender sensitivity cases in trying to protect the interest of the child.
He said even though the decisions of the judges were based on the law but admonished them to look into the sensitivity of the issues, particularly the one that had to do with the children.
He thanked the judges and judiciary as a whole for their cooperation, noting that the project itself is being sponsor by Relief.
Making her statement through the aid of technology, the Director of Equality Now Faiza Mohamed said Equality is an international organization with his Africa office based in Nairobi.
She said their aim is to achieve legal and systemic change to address violence against women and girls.
Among such violence she said is rape, and cultural assumptions. As an organization, she said they were calling out inequality whenever they see it.
Topics such as: special fast track/frog jump procedure in approaching the court in Sexual offences, international best practice in the trial of sexual offences, conviction and sentencing in sexual offences, handling defences in trial of sexual offences and judicial ethics, code of conduct for judicial officers, among others were presented and discussed.
