Chief Justice Komba Kamanda has commissioned a new Sexual Offences Model Court in Makeni, Bombali District, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen access to justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Sierra Leone.
The newly opened court is the second of its kind in the country, following a similar facility recently inaugurated in Bo. It forms part of the Judiciary’s broader reforms to ensure fair, timely, and survivor-centred justice for victims of sexual offences.
Chief Justice Kamanda said the court was designed to safeguard the dignity and rights of survivors while improving the efficiency and sensitivity of the justice process.
“This court represents our determination to deliver justice swiftly and compassionately,” he said. “Let’s prevent it rather than focus on the cure, which can never undo the damage caused to the child.”
The facility features a dedicated registry, judge’s chambers, a victim-protection witness box, a prepping section, and a child-friendly waiting room equipped with toys, flowers, and educational materials to help children feel at ease before proceedings begin.
The Chief Justice expressed gratitude to UNICEF for its continued partnership with the Judiciary and appealed for further support to expand Sexual Offences Model Courts to other parts of the country.
The event was hosted by Resident High Court Judge, Justice Abubakarr Sannoh, who described the new court as “appropriately timely,” citing the severe challenges survivors previously faced, including inadequate protection and lack of dedicated facilities.
In attendance were several senior members of the judiciary, including Supreme Court Justices Alusine Sesay, Abdullah M. Bangura, and Fatmatta Bintu Alhadi; Court of Appeal Justices Jamesina King, M.P. Mami, Tonia Barnett, Alfred T. Ganda, and Simeon Allieu; and High Court Justices Manuela A.J. Harding and A.K. Musa.
Also present were senior Judiciary management officials such as Deputy Master and Registrar Lloyd H. Jusu, Director of Communications Elkass Sannoh, and Accountant Ezekiel Ganawa.
Paramount Chief Massa Yeli Tharm III of Gbanti Chiefdom hailed the court’s establishment as a “historic moment” for Bombali District, pledging the full support of traditional authorities in the fight against sexual violence.
UNICEF Child Protection Specialist Nassal Millicent Kebbie reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to child justice. “For UNICEF, access to justice is not an abstract principle—it’s the right of the child,” she said. “When children and families can trust the system to protect them, it strengthens the fabric of society.”
Regional Minister for the North-East, Ibrahim Jalloh, also commended the Judiciary’s efforts and promised continued collaboration to combat violence and abuse against women and children.
The establishment of the Makeni Sexual Offences Model Court marks another milestone in Sierra Leone’s justice reform agenda, aimed at creating a more responsive and survivor-focused legal system.
By Eva Johns
