By: Ibrahim Mansaray
As part of its mission to fight for women’s access to justice, AdvocAid engaged youth at Crab Town Lumley on ending stigmatisation against formerly incarcerated women.
This is part of the organisation’s extended efforts to create a welcoming environment and community tolerance for women who have served time. The message targeted both young women who were at the centre of this engagement and their male counterparts as well.
AdvocAid’s project officer, Fatmata Lamarana Bah said that they often receive complaints of stigmatisation from these women by members of the communities they live in. “We are focusing on refuting the stereotypes pinned on women who have been incarcerated. Most communities tend to be hostile to these women and as such it affects their self-esteem”, she said.
Bah added that it is on this note that they have set out to entreat communities to welcome these women and not weaponise their past by treating them as ex-convicts instead of humans.
Primarily, AdvocAid provides legal service to women who come in conflict with the law. They support these women from their arrest to pre-trial detention and go as far as pleading for the minimum possible sentences for those who get incarcerated. However, their support transcends their primary mandate, as they also work to get women out of the detention facilities, providing them financial and other kinds of support thereafter.
Namsa Thoronka, one of AdvocAid’s paralegal said that their support includes teaching women the law – particularly their conduct and their rights when they are in custody. This, she added, entails complying with lawful demands of the Police and exercising such rights as access to legal services, food and water and visitation by family members.
AdvocAid’s visit to the community was also graced by Janet Sandy, a formerly incarcerated woman. Despite her incarceration, she firmly believes that she can contribute immensely to her community and the country. Sandy said all forms of crime should be steered clear off as they can potentially land anyone behind bars. She recounted her experiences while she was in detention and encouraged community members to embrace other women like her and avoid crime.
