AYV News, June 25, 2024

The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles left the shores of Sierra Leone for the U.S. on the invitation of the Global Program on Justice and Rule of Law at the World Bank where she will be speaking at the ‘Justice and Rule of Law Global Forum: Fostering Inclusive and Sustainable Development.’

‘In recognition  of your expertise and the work you have led with the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board, we would like to invite you to speak at the session in the Forum’ the letter notes.

The Forum will be held on June 25 and 26, 2024 at the World Bank Group Headquarters in Washington D.C. The two-day events will bring together over 200 partner organizations. Leaders, and practitioners and aims to foster dialogue and collaboration to elevate the role of Justice and Rule of Law as an essential element of economic development.

The Legal Aid Board has been credited globally with implementing one of the most frugal schemes in the world. It has also developed a home grown innovative mechanism – the Monthly Child Maintenance payment by parents/fathers which goes towards the upkeep of the child and the use of the courts to ensure compliance in case of breach.

The latest research on the financing of legal schemes by Oversees Development Institute showcases the progress the Legal Aid Board has made in expanding access to justice with limited resources relative to other schemes.

Ms. Carlton-Hanclies will share experience with practitioners on the Forum on delivering legal aid using few lawyers, the work of its Paralegals in remote communities with limited access to the Formal Justice system, the establishment of Community Advisory Bureaus (CAB) to ensure communities take some ownership of their justice needs, the use of technology such as WhatsAppp and introduction of Child Maintenance and enforcement of same.