European Delegation Meets Chief Justice

European Delegation Meets Chief Justic

The Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Lordship Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda has assured the delegation from Expertise France that the Judiciary of Sierra Leone is highly committed in the relentless fight against human trafficking.
The Chief Justice said among the many strides to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, the Judiciary has conducted specialized training for Judges, Magistrates and Lawyers on human trafficking and other related offenses including adoption, which is a testament to the institution’s commitment to the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling. He continued that those set of Judges and Magistrates trained have cases on human trafficking and adoption exclusively assigned to them for determination.
“These workable strategies implemented by the Judiciary in handling cases on adoption and human trafficking have greatly reduced the rate at which the act/offence is ventured into,” the Chief Justice told the France delegation.
Speaking to the Hon. Chief Justice and other Judges of the Superior Court of Judicature at the Chief Justice’s Chambers, the deputy head of Migration, Gender and Human Rights, Ms. Matilda Ngakui Pima said Expertise France is a French cooperation agency that is based in Paris with multiple mandates including to co-construct and design a new operation that protects victims of human trafficking and support the efforts of partner countries to strengthen their judicial and legal systems.
She said the principal aim of the visit is to understand the Judiciary’s perspective in the fight against human trafficking, identifying possible gaps in the enforcement of Human Trafficking and Migration Smuggling Act of 2022 and to explore cooperation with other national stakeholders.
Commenting on key issues raised by the delegation, the Chief Justice disclosed that there are major challenges with victim’s cooperation in getting them to engage the criminal justice system due to illegal compromises which serve as hindrance to expeditious trails. He stressed that unlike other criminal matters, which begin with preliminary investigations at the Magistrate’s courts, human trafficking offenses are tried at the High Court as the Magistrate’s Court lacks jurisdiction to try and determine them.
He added that “despite our frantic move in ensuring that we move at an accelerated speed to combat human trafficking, my institution has limited resources, which has hindered the capacity of the Judiciary and other actors to comprehensively address human trafficking.” These challenges, according to him, were central to the development of the 2022 Act, which also integrates provisions on migrant smuggling.
In his response, the head of delegation, Madam Ngakui Pima acknowledged the gaps and reaffirmed their commitment to support Sierra Leone, adding that the delegation’s visit is a fact-finding mission which indicates that the Judiciary of Sierra Leone is being highly considered for inclusion in the regional project.
Describing judiciary’s approach as ‘very ambitious,’ she said “we recognize the need for a robust and inclusive approach.” He added that the delegation has conducted missions to Ghana and Benin and will proceed to Nigeria.
In his closing remarks, the Hon. Chief Justice reiterated Judiciary’s unwavering commitment to fighting human trafficking and expressed optimism on future collaboration. He maintained that Judiciary’s success in ensuring the reduction of crime rate in adoption and human trafficking cases is based on the collaborative efforts of the Sierra Leone Police, the Ministry of Social Welfare and Children’s Affairs, Legal Aid Board, the Ministry of Justice and host of other players in the criminal justice system.
He revealed that the Communications and Public Affairs Department of the Judiciary will embark on a strategic public education drive that will unearth the safe heavens of traffickers and their accomplices.