Ms. Browne wants the Board to hold outreach events in the village to educate the people on issues of law relating to domestic violence, gender, women’s rights, redress mechanisms and support services for victims.
‘We want to benefit from the Legal Aid Board’s Legal Empowerment Programme because there is an urgent need for one in the community,’ Ms. Browne told the Executive Director of the Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles on the phone. ‘The situation is desperate. I am afraid if you do not come in now the situation could spiral out of control.’
The call follows series of referral of victims of domestic violence to the Legal Aid Board office in Freetown. The latest victim sent to the Board is one Baindu who was battered by her boyfriend Borbor Abu in the presence of their one year old son.
Narrating her ordeal, Baindu said she took her sick brother to the Emergency Hospital in Goderich on Tuesday in the morning, August 1 and had to return home late in the evening. Upon return, her boyfriend erupted into a feat of rage pounced on her leaving her eyes bloodied and face swollen. ‘He dismissed my explanation for returning home in the evening and accused me of infidelity,’ she said.
Ms. Carlton-Hanciles was so moved by Baindu’s plight that she assisted with her medical bill. She went on to assign one of the Board’s Paralegal, Edmond Pratt to help with her case at the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters on Pademba Road where she was given a medical form.
Ms. Carlton-Hanciles has responded favorably to Ms. Browne request. ‘We will hold series of outreach events in the community starting next week,’ she said.
