By Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications
Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards has today presented certificates of quality participation to 26 Judges and the Principal Magistrate after successful completion of the first Judicial Colloquium and Mock Trial training on trafficking of persons.
The four-day training was sponsored by the United States Government under (JTIP) T&TA grant, with support from the Italian Government and jointly planned and organized by the UNODC and the Judiciary through the Judicial and Legal Training Institute (JLTI).
The training was aimed at providing professional development for Judges and Magistrates in adjudicating cases of human trafficking.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Honourable Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards, said the level of participation between the judges and the facilitators showcased the great potential embedded in Sierra Leoneans.
He thanked the American Ambassador to Sierra Leone David Reimer, UNDP, UNODC, JLTI, HOPE International and ION for their support in making the training ‘an excellent one.’
“My judges have done extremely well and it gives me great pleasure that you were so impressed by our judges,” Hon. Chief Justice tells the foreign facilitators, adding that, “This was not only a training that you came to impart knowledge, but you were also imparted by us and the sharing was excellent.”
Alline Pedra, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, office of the UNODC who doubles as one of the facilitators of the training described the training as one of the best they’ve had and a session of mutual benefits for both the facilitators and the participants.
She thanked the Hon. Chief Justice for his warm reception in creating the enabling environment to make the training a success.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the Director of the Judicial and Legal Training Institute (JLTI), Honourable Justice Eku E. Roberts (JSC) thanked the Organizers, the facilitators, the participants and the representative from the Ministry of Social Welfare for what he described as a display of “excellence” throughout the training.
He added that members of the Institute have learnt a lot from the display of expertise which he said was worthy of emulation.
