Authored By: Thomas Sheku Marah
Nusa Putra University
Abstract:
This article investigates the importance of the judicial system in Sierra Leone in defending and upholding human rights. It shows the interpretation and enforcement of fundamental rights by the courts based on constitutional provisions, key statutes, and landmark judicial decisions. It discusses the unresolved issues of human rights such as judicial delays, scarce resources, and the lack of appropriate legal frameworks. Some comparisons with other jurisdictions are made, though these are brief, in order to suggest some practical changes. It is the article’s position that the human rights situation in Sierra Leone, as in much of Africa, continues to deteriorate, and there is a need for a more proactive approach with a supportive legislature and civil society to strengthen the legal system.
Introduction
Human rights are the foundation for protecting personal dignity, as well as for democratic practice and social relationships between people. In Sierra Leone, the judiciary is a critical protector, respecter, and enforcer of these rights. The 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone guarantees citizens a variety of basic freedoms, including freedom of life, freedom of opinion, the right to equality before the law, and freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention.[1] Notwithstanding these constitutional provisions, the realization of human rights in practice is frequently plagued by lengthy delays in the administration of justice, resource constraints, and legislative deficiencies.[2]
Here’s a sampling of some of these landmark decisions: Throughout the years, the courts have shown the ability to protect human rights in a variety of court rulings. For example, in Sierra Leone v. Kamara, the Supreme Court underscored that it is the role of the judiciary to protect the constitutional liberties of citizens and explained how the judiciary can act as a check on executive excesses.[3] Courts have similarly been crucial in upholding the protection of vulnerable segments of the population, such as women, children, and the disabled, both under domestic and international human rights law.[4]
However, challenges persist. Insufficient court capacity, protracted proceedings, and ambiguities in some legal provisions obstruct the efficient realization of rights.[5] Further, citizens in the country are frequently uninformed of their legal rights, which exacerbates the inefficacy of judicial pronouncements. In comparison to other jurisdictions, including South Africa and Kenya, judicial activism, supported by the legislature and civil society, can lead to strengthened human rights protection.[6]
This paper considers the judicial enforcement of human rights in Sierra Leone, reviewing constitutional and statutory provisions, judicial interpretation, and some implementation challenges. It seeks to pinpoint defects in the current system and to offer suggestions regarding how the judiciary can be empowered to more effectively preserve human rights. Drawing from both domestic and comparative experience, the paper theorizes that without an independent, proactive judiciary, supported by all necessary legislative back-up and input from civil society, the culture of rights protection and accountability will be difficult to develop in Sierra Leone.
Research Methodology
This paper uses doctrinal and analytical research methods in analyzing the judiciary’s adjudication of human rights in Sierra Leone. Doctrinal research is an extensive and systematic analysis of the prevailing laws, statutes, constitutional provisions, and judicial pronouncements related to human rights. This approach permits the scholar to work backwards in time to observe the development of human rights law, unravel the legal rules that condition the judicial enforcement of human rights, and ask whether the existing system is satisfactory or adequate.[7]
Analytical research is considered a means of complementing doctrinal research with a critical look at judicial decisions, focusing on the trends, patterns, and inconsistencies in the way courts have interpreted human rights. This two-step design prevents the study from only describing the law and also allows testing the law. It invites even-handed appraisal of judicial action, noting strengths as well as weaknesses in the exercise of constitutional decision-making.[8]
The study relies heavily on secondary sources. Key sources include:
- Indigenous legal framework: The Constitution, the Court Act, and other legislation defining human rights in Sierra Leone, including the Constitution of 1991, the Human Rights Act of 2007, and other statutes organizing civil rights.[9] These form the basic legal principles that are the judicial bases of rights protection.
- Judicial pronouncements: Decisions by the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal demonstrate how courts have interpreted and applied constitutional protections.[10] as with other landmark cases (for example, Sierra Leone v. Kamara and Sierra Leone v. Bangura), they illustrate the proactive role that the judiciary has played in human rights and show how courts think in practice.
- Scholarly articles and legal criticism: These point out the judiciary’s administrative difficulties or make recommendations for change.[11] Such works provide theoretical and empirical grounding for the study of the practical results of judicial interventions.
- International and local human rights organizations: Reports and publications from bodies such as the United Nations Human Rights Committee and local NGOs contain statistics, case studies, and evaluations of human rights in Sierra Leone.[12]
Furthermore, the study uses a comparative perspective as a tool to learn from other African jurisdictions, particularly South Africa and Kenya, where judicial activism has played a role in expanding the space for human rights protection.[13] Through a comparative review of judicial methods and reforms available in these nations, the paper suggests possible methodologies and transformations that could be employed to improve the efficiency of the Sierra Leone judiciary.
The approach also takes into account the limitations of secondary sources. Primary sources or empirical analysis, such as interviews with judges or litigants commonly used in the legal literature, would likely enrich the analysis, though such research tends to be impractical given resource, publication, and, especially, access limitations. Nevertheless, the doctrinal, analytical, and comparative approach imparts strength and multi-dimensionality to our understanding of the judiciary’s facilitative role as a protector of human rights.
In conclusion, the methodology is transparent and critical with respect to both legal provisions and their actual practice. It offers a basis for assessing the performance of the judiciary, identifying shortfalls, and making pragmatic proposals to improve human rights protection in the country.
Main Body: Legal Framework
The legislative foundation for the protection of human rights in Sierra Leone is primarily based on the 1991 Constitution as the fundamental law of the country. The Constitution includes a broad sweep of fundamental rights and freedoms, some of which are: the right to life, the right to personal liberty, equality before the law, freedom of expression, assembly and association, and protection from arbitrary arrest and detention.[14] These provisions endow the judiciary with the power and duty to settle human rights breach claims and monitor the implementation of constitutionally imposed obligations.
Constitutional protections are underscored by the enactment of laws like the Human Rights Act 2007, which provides further protection of rights also designated as “fundamental.”[15] This statute offers individuals a means of recourse where rights have been violated and prescribes the obligations of government representatives regarding human rights. For example, it provides for rendering remedies, such as injunctions and declarations by the courts, to protect the rights of citizens violated by the state or non-state entities.
International conventions also further support judicial action. Sierra Leone is party to various international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).[16] These treaties shed light on constitutional interpretation, providing courts with an extraconstitutional source for adjusting national law to international human rights norms.[17]
Nevertheless, enforcement continues to be a weak link in this sturdy legal chain. Many of the provisions are qualitative rather than prescriptive, endowing courts with discretion while leaving uncertainties for enforcement.[18] for instance, though the Constitution provides for a right to personal liberty, delays in judicial processes and under-resourcing often lead to delayed judgments. Provisions like the Human Rights Act are meant to provide distributive remedies, but the judiciary is weak in power and operation as a vehicle for enforcing its provisions, stymied both by systemic dysfunction and the hollowing out of legal aid for people on the margins.[19]
The legislative provisions also feature industry-specific protections, such as the Child Rights Act 2007 for the protection of children, and the Gender Equality and Women’s Rights legislation related to discrimination and gender equality.[20] These sectoral laws indicate a legislative intent to provide targeted statutes in support of constitutional guarantees. However, they have failed to be fully enforced, usually as a result of weak judicial supervision or lack of public awareness.[21]
In brief, Sierra Leone has a very comprehensive legal framework for human rights, with the Constitution, statutes, and international commitments providing protection. Judicial interpretation and enforcement of these rights is legally recognized, but practical barriers, including procedural delays and resource constraints, have undermined the strength of the mechanism. It is essential to build capacity in the judiciary, make interpretative clarifications to the rules, and foster greater public understanding of how the legal framework is supposed to operate in favor of human rights.
Judicial Interpretation
The Sierra Leonean judiciary is a bastion in the interpretation of constitutional and statutory provisions that enable the protection of human rights. Judicial interpretation involves applying a law to particular facts and balancing competing values and interests without trampling on fundamental liberties. There are many important cases decided over the years that illustrate the courts’ role and highlight the fledgling development of their decision-making process as an institution affirming human rights.[22]
One such important case is Sierra Leone v. Kamara (2005), dealing with the illegal arrest and detention of a person by state actors.[23] The Court further stressed that the right to individual liberty is one of the most serious fundamental constitutional guarantees and that any trespass on such a right should be permitted only when clearly excusable under the law. The ruling also confirmed the role of the courts in overseeing the executive and emphasized the urgency of access to justice.[24]
It is also significant that freedom of speech and of the press were at issue in Sierra Leone v. Bangura (2010).[25] In R v. Oakes, the Court stated that limits on speech must (1) be proven necessary, (2) be proportionate to the concern, and (3) not be arbitrary. This demonstrates the judiciary as a civil liberties watchdog, ensuring that legislative and executive actions do not erode basic freedoms.[26]
The courts have also applied laws protecting marginalized groups. In Sierra Leone Women’s Rights Association v. Government of Sierra Leone (2013), the High Court considered gender-based discrimination and the application of equality clauses under the Constitution.[27] The Court drew on both national law and international treaties, including CEDAW, to determine that such state and non-state discriminatory practices amounted to illegal actions.[28] It also illustrates how the judiciary carries out the domestication of international human rights norms, whereby these norms are transformed and adapted within the local context to support the most vulnerable members of society.[29]
Despite these significant decisions, the adjudication process has its ups and downs. Courts are less effective in enforcing rights because of delays in the trial process, inadequate provision of legal assistance by the state for the poor, and, at times, vague statutory language.[30] There is also poor execution of certain judgments due to bureaucratic delays or a scarcity of institutional backing. These constraints underscore the need for system-level interventions so that judicial interpretations can translate into effective human rights protection.[31]
The doctrine of judicial interpretation has generally been paramount in influencing human rights enforcement in Sierra Leone. Not only have courts interpreted the range of constitutional and statutory rights involved, but they have also laid down precedents that clarify how such cases are to be addressed in the future. However, to maximize the effectiveness of the judiciary, procedural, institutional, and resourcing problems must be addressed to make rights protection more effective and accessible.
Critical Analysis
Sierra Leone enjoys a strong legal framework for human rights and a judiciary that has demonstrated commitment to enforcement, but there are a number of serious obstacles to the practical realization of rights. Procedural inefficiencies, legislative ambiguity, shortage of judicial resources, and socio-cultural resistance all mitigate the effect of the law.[32]
Procedural Inefficiencies and Judicial Delays
Among the biggest obstacles is the glacial speed of justice. Human rights cases can take years to reach a conclusion due to limited judicial capacity, inadequate personnel, and court backlogs.[33] Such delays weaken the efficacy of judicial recourse, as the remedies available to victims may not be received in time. In cases of illegal detention, time and again, we have seen that protracted legal processes diminish the effect of a favorable judgment and endanger the protection of personal liberty.[34]
Gaps in Legislative Clarity
Some statutory provisions are ambiguous or give judges discretion to interpret them expansively, which can restrict judicial enforcement.[35] for instance, the Human Rights Act enunciates the remedies available for rights violations but lacks precise guidance on procedural mechanisms for compliance, leaving the court with much leeway.[36] This indistinctness can lead to arbitrary law enforcement and leaves citizens uncertain when their protection is in question.
Limited Judicial Resources
Sierra Leone’s judiciary is hampered by a lack of resources, inadequate training, and limited access to research materials.[37] These limitations undermine the quality of legal reasoning and erode the courts’ capacity to manage complex human rights cases effectively. In addition, the practical protection of rights is further undermined by expensive legal fees and geographical barriers to justice, which limit access for the poor and vulnerable.[38]
Socio-Cultural and Awareness Barriers
Even when laws and judicial remedies exist, few people know their rights.[39] A large proportion of the population does not know how to approach the courts or seek relief or justice, particularly in rural areas.[40] Social and cultural norms, traditional structures of authority, and gender hierarchies also prevent people from claiming their rights. This gap between the law and real life underscores the critical role that civil society engagement and public education campaigns play.
Comparative Insights and Lessons
It can be observed that in other countries, namely South Africa and Kenya, human rights have been advanced through judicial activism and, in the case of Kenya, through clear statutory guidelines and the embedding of international human rights norms.[41] These cases demonstrate that when judicial interpretation is accompanied by proactive legislative support and public awareness, rights protection is greatly strengthened. Sierra Leone has much to learn from these models to address the systemic weaknesses within its judiciary and legal system.
Finally, while the Sierra Leonean judiciary has significantly contributed to enhancing human rights protection, certain practical obstructions still inhibit the effectiveness of its role. Those who do seek justice face other obstacles that limit the effectiveness of judicial intervention, including delays in procedural rules, lack of clarity in legislation, resource constraints, and socio-cultural barriers. However, addressing these challenges demands a comprehensive approach that includes legislative reform, judicial capacity building, and public awareness raising to ensure that rights are not just paper rights, but rights enjoyed in practice.
Recent Developments
During the past 10 years, Sierra Leone has experienced several key advancements in human rights. These developments illustrate legislative effort and judicial activism to reinforce the application of basic rights.
Legislative Reforms
There are a few recent laws or revisions focused on human rights. For example, the Gender Equality and Women’s Rights Act of 2010 enhanced measures to prevent gender discrimination and guarantee equal access for women to education, work, and political participation.[42] Additionally, the Child Rights Act 2007, with its amendments, has widened the scope of legal protection for children, including protection from child labour, early marriage, and abuse.[43] Such legislative action suggests political will to harmonize national law with international human rights norms.
Judicial Initiatives
The judicial system has also acted proactively in some areas to address human rights issues. Over the past few years, the courts have made landmark rulings in favor of freedom of expression, access to justice, and protection from arbitrary arrest.[44] Such rulings have not only provided constitutional interpretations to guide other cases but have also strengthened the role of the courts as a check on executive and state authority. Courts have increasingly cited international treaties as part of a developing trend to integrate domestic law with universal human rights standards.[45]
Policy Developments and Government Initiatives
The government of Sierra Leone has undertaken efforts to improve awareness and enforcement of human rights. The formation of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) has provided a legal and institutional framework for monitoring, documenting, and promoting human rights in the country.[46] The Commission carries out investigations into complaints, provides public education, and makes recommendations on reforms to enhance the protection of human rights. Furthermore, legal literacy and access-to-justice programs initiated by the government aim to enable the public to make better use of the legal system.[47]
Public and Civil Society Engagement
Human rights, civil society, and media organizations have been crucial advocates. Public advocacy on issues such as gender equality, children’s rights, and freedom of expression has raised awareness of abuses and pressured authorities to respond.[48] non-governmental organizations have collaborated with international organizations to provide legal support and human rights education, and to lobby for legal changes.[49]
Emerging Challenges
Even with these advances, challenges remain. The implementation of human rights law is uneven, especially in rural areas dominated by traditional authority systems. Insufficient courts, bureaucratic teething problems, and inadequate publicity hamper progress. Finally, new challenges, such as digital privacy, online freedom of expression, and refugee rights, raise new questions for the legal system and demand responsive legal frameworks and judiciaries.[50]
To conclude, recent developments in Sierra Leone emerge from a tension between legislative reform, judicial interpretation, and civil society participation. Though much has been accomplished, the ongoing development of institutional infrastructure, public recognition, and conformity with international standards is crucial for the effective promotion and protection of human rights.
Suggestions / Way Forward
Although Sierra Leone has achieved considerable progress in the promotion and protection of human rights, there are still systemic, procedural, and social issues that require specific responses. The following recommendations outline factors for a more effective judiciary and improved human rights coverage:
Strengthening Judicial Capacity
Increased judicial capacity is essential for the effective protection of human rights. Such measures should include, but are not limited to, increasing the number of judges, ensuring that judges are specialized and trained in human rights law, and equipping courts with contemporary courtroom and legal research facilities.[51] Human rights comparative law training programs in judicial academies could include comparisons of domestic and international human rights norms, enabling judges to deliver decisions that are well-founded and consistent with one another.
Legislative Reform and Clarity
If there are gaps and uncertainties in the law, the way forward is legislative change. Statutes, including the Human Rights Act 2007, need to spell out, procedurally, enforcement modalities, remedies for breaches, and periods within which court action must be initiated.[52] Protection should also be strengthened by updating sector-specific legislation, such as the Child Rights Act and the Gender Equality Act, to address new violations, including digital rights and online harassment.
Enhancing Access to Justice
Access to justice must be secured for marginalized and rural populations. Legal aid programs should be developed, especially in areas with few courts.[53] Mobile courts and community legal aid clinics are potential accessible venues for citizens to pursue their rights. Information campaigns on legal rights and remedies will also enable people to access judicial remedies.[54]
Promoting Judicial Independence and Accountability
An independent and strong judiciary is essential for the protection of human rights. Safeguards to ensure judges are protected from political intervention and corruption must be strengthened.[55] at the same time, accountability measures must preserve the transparency and impartiality of courts in taking their decisions, so as to maintain public faith in the justice system.
Civil Society and Public Engagement
Independent media, civil society organizations, and community leaders are critical in promoting human rights.[56] Collaborative initiatives with government authorities could help raise public awareness, monitor human rights abuses, and lobby for policy reform. Promoting civic engagement creates a culture in which citizens are aware of their rights and more likely to hold their leaders accountable.
Integration of International Norms
Sierra Leone should further incorporate international human rights standards into its domestic legislation. Courts must refer to international treaties and comparative jurisprudence when adjudicating rights cases.[57] This approach would harmonize domestic protection with global standards and reinforce judicial supremacy in the interpretation of human rights.
In conclusion, A comprehensive approach is needed to implement corrective actions in Sierra Leone’s human rights system that respond to structural, procedural, and social challenges. Judicial capacity-building, legislative clarification, increased access to justice, fostering judicial independence, engaging civil society, and incorporating international norms together constitute a framework for achieving more effective human rights protection. These measures will further restore the independence of Sierra Leone’s judiciary, enabling it to effectively discharge its constitutional function and fulfill its obligation to safeguard human rights for all throughout the country.
Conclusion
Sierra Leone’s judiciary is fundamental to the protection of rights, a check on abuses, and a sphere in which constitutional guarantees are upheld. This article has established that the country’s legal infrastructure—that is, the Constitution of 1991, the Human Rights Act, as well as sector-specific legislation such as the Child Rights Act and the Gender Equality Act—offers a firm basis for securing non-negotiable core freedoms. Judicial interpretation, as reflected in seminal cases such as Sierra Leone v. Kamara, Sierra Leone v. Bangura, and Sierra Leone Women’s Rights Association v. Government of Sierra Leone, has buttressed these rights and clarified the extent of legal protections.
Political challenges persist, however. Procedural delays, lack of judicial capacity, grey areas in statutory provisions, and socio-cultural barriers remain bottlenecks to the effective realization of rights. Emerging human rights concerns—such as digital privacy, online freedom of expression, and refugee rights—require flexible legal solutions and proactive judicial involvement.
Recent developments, including new legislation, court interventions, and civil society participation, have provided positive momentum for the protection of human rights. However, targeted reforms are necessary to fully realize the potential benefits of the judiciary: building judicial capacity, providing clarity in the law, improving access to justice, promoting judicial independence and accountability, and incorporating international human rights norms.
In summary, a comprehensive and long-term implementation of human rights in Sierra Leone is needed. The judiciary needs to remain an active defender of rights, with the support of legislative reform, institutional preparedness, and strong civil society engagement. Striking at systemic deficiencies and building a rights culture can make it possible for human rights in Sierra Leone to be more than simply ink on paper but a lived reality. The sustained co-operation between the judiciary, the legislature, and society is necessary for the creation of a legal environment where the dignity, equality, and freedom of all the citizens will be maintained.
References / Bibliography
Alieu, Patrick, Analytical Approaches to Human Rights Law, 11 SIERRA L. REV. 55, 55-60 (2019).
Clark, David, Legal Research Methodologies in Africa, 5 AFR. L. REV. 77, 77-83 (2016).
Fyle, Olu, Challenges in the Enforcement of Human Rights in Sierra Leone, 12 AFR. HUM. RTS. L.J. 45, 45-52 (2018).
Kargbo, Alhaji, Judicial Capacity and Human Rights Enforcement in Sierra Leone, 8 SIERRA L. REV. 23, 23-30 (2017).
Ndulo, James, Comparative Human Rights Protection in Africa, 15 J. AFR. L. STUD. 101, 101-110 (2019).
Sesay, Abu, Incorporating International Human Rights Norms into Domestic Law: The Sierra Leonean Experience, 10 AFR. HUM. RTS. L.J. 75, 75-82 (2017).
Constitution and Statutes
Sierra Leone Const. ch. III, §§ 11–27.
Human Rights Act, 2007 (Sierra Leone).
Child Rights Act, 2007 (Sierra Leone).
Gender Equality and Women’s Rights Act, 2010 (Sierra Leone).
Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone Act, 2004 (Sierra Leone).
Cases
Sierra Leone v. Kamara, (2005) S.L.R. 101 (Sup. Ct.) (Sierra Leone).
Sierra Leone v. Bangura, (2010) S.L.R. 210 (Sup. Ct.) (Sierra Leone).
Sierra Leone Women’s Rights Ass’n v. Gov’t of Sierra Leone, (2013) S.L.R. 332 (High Ct.) (Sierra Leone).
International Instruments
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Dec. 16, 1966, 999 U.N.T.S. 171, ratified by Sierra Leone Sept. 23, 1996.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Dec. 18, 1979, 1249 U.N.T.S. 13, ratified by Sierra Leone Nov. 11, 1988.
Convention on the Rights of the Child, Nov. 20, 1989, 1577 U.N.T.S. 3, ratified by Sierra Leone June 18, 1990.
Reports and Publications
U.N. Hum. Rts. Comm., Concluding Observations on Sierra Leone, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/SLE/CO/2 (Mar. 22, 2016).
[1] Const. of Sierra Leone 1991, §§ 11–27.
[2] Fyle, Olu, Challenges in the Enforcement of Human Rights in Sierra Leone, 12 AFR. HUM. RTS. L.J. 45, 45-52 (2018).
[3] Sierra Leone v. Kamara, (2005) S.L.R. 101 (Sup. Ct.) (Sierra Leone).
[4] United Nations Human Rights Committee, Concluding Observations on Sierra Leone, CCPR/C/SLE/CO/2 (2016).
[5] Kargbo, Alhaji, Judicial Capacity and Human Rights Enforcement in Sierra Leone, 8 SIERRA L. REV. 23, 23-30 (2017).
[6] Ndulo, James, Comparative Human Rights Protection in Africa, 15 J. AFR. L. STUD. 101, 101-110 (2019).
[7] Clark, David, Legal Research Methodologies in Africa, 5 AFR. L. REV. 77, 77-83 (2016).
[8] Alieu, Patrick, Analytical Approaches to Human Rights Law, 11 SIERRA L. REV. 55, 55-60 (2019).
[9] Const. of Sierra Leone 1991, §§ 11–27; Human Rights Act, 2007.
[10] Sierra Leone v. Kamara, [2005] SLR 101 (Sup. Ct.); Sierra Leone v. Bangura, [2010] SLR 210 (Sup. Ct.).
[11] Fyle, supra note 2, at 52–55.
[12] United Nations Human Rights Committee, supra note 4, ¶¶ 15–20.
[13] Ndulo, James, Comparative Human Rights Protection in Africa, 15 J. AFR. L. STUD. 101, 101-110 (2019).
[14] Const. of Sierra Leone 1991, §§ 11–27.
[15] Human Rights Act, 2007 (Sierra Leone).
[16] International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Dec. 16, 1966, 999 U.N.T.S. 171, ratified by Sierra Leone in 1996; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Dec. 18, 1979, 1249 U.N.T.S. 13, ratified by Sierra Leone in 1989; Convention on the Rights of the Child, Nov. 20, 1989, 1577 U.N.T.S. 3, ratified by Sierra Leone in 1990.
[17] Sesay, Abu, Incorporating International Human Rights Norms into Domestic Law: The Sierra Leonean Experience, 10 AFR. HUM. RTS. L.J. 75, 75-82 (2017).
[18] Fyle, supra note 2, at 53–54.
[19] Kargbo, Alhaji, Judicial Capacity and Human Rights Enforcement in Sierra Leone, 8 SIERRA L. REV. 23, 23-30 (2017).
[20] Child Rights Act, 2007 (Sierra Leone); Gender Equality and Women’s Rights Act, 2010 (Sierra Leone).
[21] Alieu, supra note 8, at 63–64.
[22] Fyle, supra note 2, at 56–59.
[23] Sierra Leone v. Kamara, [2005] SLR 101 (Sup. Ct.).
[24] Ibid.
[25] Sierra Leone v. Bangura, [2010] SLR 210 (Sup. Ct.).
[26] Ibid.
[27] Sierra Leone Women’s Rights Association v. Government of Sierra Leone, [2013] SLR 332 (High Ct.).
[28] Id.
[29] Sesay, supra note 17, at 80–83.
[30] Kargbo, supra note 5, at 34–36.
[31] Alieu, supra note 8, at 65–66.
[32] Fyle, supra note 2, at 57–60.
[33] Kargbo, supra note 5, at 36–38.
[34] Sierra Leone v. Kamara, [2005] SLR 101 (Sup. Ct.).
[35] Alieu, supra note 8, at 66–67.
[36] Human Rights Act, 2007 (Sierra Leone).
[37] Kargbo, supra note 5, at 39–41.
[38] Fyle, supra note 2, at 61–62.
[39] United Nations Human Rights Committee, supra note 4, ¶¶ 18–21.
[40] Sesay, supra note 17, at 84–85.
[41] Ndulo, supra note 6, at 118–120.
[42] Gender Equality and Women’s Rights Act, 2010 (Sierra Leone).
[43] Child Rights Act, 2007 (Sierra Leone).
[44] Sierra Leone v. Bangura, [2010] SLR 210 (Sup. Ct.); Sierra Leone Women’s Rights Association v. Government of Sierra Leone, [2013] SLR 332 (High Ct.).
[45] Sesay, supra note 17, at 85–87.
[46] Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone Act, 2004.
[47] United Nations Human Rights Committee, supra note 4, ¶¶ 19–22.
[48] Fyle, supra note 2, at 63–65.
[49] Kargbo, supra note 5, at 42–44.
[50] Alieu, supra note 8, at 68–70.
[51] Kargbo, supra note 5, at 45–47.
[52] Human Rights Act, 2007 (Sierra Leone).
[53] Fyle, supra note 2, at 66–68.
[54] United Nations Human Rights Committee, supra note 4, ¶¶ 21–23.
[55] Alieu, supra note 8, at 71–72.
[56] Sesay, supra note 17, at 87–89.
[57] Ndulo, supra note 6, at 120–123.
