PICTORIAL EVIDENCE

BRIEF HISTORY OF JUSTICE SECTOR SIERRA LEONE

The Justice Sector Coordination Office was set up to provide strategic direction to
reforms in the justice sector. It collaborates with justice sector ministries,
departments and agencies such as the Sierra Leone e Police, Sierra Leone
Correctional Service, Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs,
Legal Aid Board, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Education, Ministry
of Health, Anti Corruption Commission, Office of the Ombudsman and civil
society organizations such as AdvocAid, CARL etc., to provide that leadership
through the Justice Sector Reform Strategy and Investment Plan III (2015-2018).
This plan outlines a coherent, systematic and prioritized set of activities to national
justice reforms.
 ADDRESS AND CONTACT

JSCO is located on the first floor of Guma Building, Lamina Sankoh Street, Freetown,
Sierra Leone.

076 54 22 45
 OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

We build power in communities so that people are able to exercise their rights and
actively participate in governance and decision-making.

JUSTICE

We use legal empowerment methods to achieve lasting, positive change in the face of
inequality and discrimination. Together, we are building a more just and sustainable
world.

SOLIDARITY

Our members are part of a greater whole, where they strengthen, inspire, and protect
each other. We invite a diversity of actors - from policymakers to the public - to join
us as allies.

We celebrate successes and support each other through the hard times. We learn from one another
through international exchanges, courses, research, and more. We work together to change norms
and systems.
 WHAT WE DO

Focus: Citizenship & Identification, Community / Customary Land Rights, Criminal

Justice, Education, Environmental Justice, Family, Gender-based violence,
Governance, Accountability & Transparency, Health, Housing Rights & Informal
Settlements, Labor & Employment, Livelihoods, Peace-building & Transitional
Justice, Traditional / Customary Justice, Women's Right. According to the Sierra
Leone 1999 Constitution below are the motor functions of Justice Sector Sierra
Leone;

The Coordinator shall be responsible for -

(a) providing guidance and support to justice sector institutions in the implementation
of their strategic plans;

b) collaborating with external partners in supporting justice sector reform;

(c) the day-to-day administration of the Justice

Sector Coordination Office;

(d) the supervision and discipline of other staff of the Justice Sector Coordination
Office;

(e) the execution of the policies of the Justice

Sector Coordination Office; and

(f) carrying out such other functions as may be assigned to him by the Board.
 A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE DO

The Justice Sector Coordination Office (JSCO) of the Ministry of Justice has
produced the Justice Sector Survey 2008, which is a baseline publication about the
justice sector in Sierra Leone.

This second edition of the Justice Sector Survey is intended to serve as information
material of the justice sector with specific focus on key institutions in the criminal and
civil justice systems, which are expected to provide equitable and affordable justice
for the people of Sierra Leone. The publication assembles as much significant data as
possible and makes it available to everyone interested, from justice professionals to
members of the general public.

The scope of information includes an overview of the following areas:

Identification of staffing levels, structures, functions and deployment in all relevant

institutions
Geographical location of institutions and its operations
Basic disaggregated data relating to caseload, turnover, speed, type of cases, client
groups, etc.
List of civil society organisations that are active in the justice sector

One major section focuses on work that is taking place in Moyamba, which was
selected as the pilot district for the Justice Sector Development Programme (JSDP),
during its initial phase of two years (March 2005 to June 2007). This section has been
included to demonstrate how the justice sector operates in the provinces. Other
sections include, details of known NGOs working in the justice field, cross-
institutional information on child justice, plus significant research on justice issues in
Sierra Leone.

The survey is based on information that was collated from documents currently held
in the JSCO Resource Unit and interviews with various individuals in the justice
sector. The survey is currently being circulated to all of the JSCO partners and will
also be made accessible to the public through the Resource Unit.
“It is our aim that the survey will be updated and published every two years in order
to keep stakeholders current on the justice sector in Sierra Leone”, stated the Justice
Sector Coordination Office (JSCO) Coordinator, Ms. Sarah-Ann A. A. Lewis.

The Justice Sector Coordination Office (JSCO) in the Ministry of Justice is

responsible for driving forward the day-to-day operations of the Government of Sierra
Leone Justice Sector Reform Strategy and Investment Plan (JSRSIP) 2008-2010.The
JSRSIP vision is to develop an efficient, effective, impartial and accountable justice
sector that meets the needs of all communities in Sierra Leone.