LocationsSierra Leone Ushers in New Era Justice and Equality with Criminal Procedure Act 2024
September 16, 2025
Side view of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone
For many years, people in Sierra Leone struggled with a justice system that was slow, unequal, and difficult to access. Survivors of gender-based violence, in particular, faced an additional barrier, the law did not allow a wife to testify against her husband in court. `
This meant that in many domestic violence cases, important evidence was never heard, cases collapsed, and survivors were left without justice.
Today, 16 September 2025, Sierra Leone has taken an important step forward as the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) 2024 officially came into effect. The new law replaces outdated procedures with a modern framework that respects human rights, shortens delays, and improves fairness. One of the most significant changes is that spouses and partners are now legally recognized as competent witnesses and, in certain cases, can be compelled to testify. This reform is critical in the fight against gender-based violence.
In the weeks leading up to its commencement, trainings were organized across the justice sector to prepare police, magistrates, prosecutors, and other actors to implement the new law effectively.
“By ensuring spouses and partners can give evidence, Sierra Leone’s CPA 2024 delivers stronger prosecutions, greater victim protection, and true equality before the law,” said UNDP Resident Representative Frederick Ampiah.
Faster Access to Justice
Under the old system, justice was often painfully slow. The Preliminary Investigation (PI) stage acted as a bottleneck, dragging cases on for months or years. Many accused people spent more time in pre-trial detention than the maximum sentence they would have faced if convicted. This created frustration, overcrowded correctional centres, and undermined public trust in the system.
The CPA 2024 removes this obstacle. It introduces a streamlined committal proceeding, requiring magistrates to decide within 28 days whether a case should go to the High Court. This reform ensures that cases move forward quickly, reducing the backlog and giving both victims and defendants timely access to justice.
Police investigators, who are often the first point of contact in the justice system, were among those trained ahead of the Act’s commencement. These sessions familiarized them with the new rules on investigations, committal proceedings, and the shorter timelines for trials.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, emphasized this change:
“The new Criminal Procedure Act ensures that persons committed for trial in the High Court will have their cases heard within 180 days, or for the defendant to be put on trial within 90 days after committal. The Act has taken on board the spirit and intendment of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the principles enshrined in the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights."
Alpha Sesay, Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Sierra Leone
Supporting Women, Families, and Communities
The CPA also promotes fairness beyond the courtroom by introducing non-custodial sentences and community-based sanctions for minor offences. This means that not every conviction results in imprisonment. Instead, offenders may serve their sentence through community service, rehabilitation, or other alternatives.
This approach is especially important for women, many of whom are primary caregivers. Sending a mother to prison for a low-level offence often disrupts entire families, pushing children into hardship. By offering alternatives, the law helps preserve family unity, reduces overcrowding in correctional facilities, and supports reintegration into society.
Another important feature of the Act is its focus on vulnerable witnesses, including survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, children, and persons with disabilities. These groups often face intimidation, stigma, or trauma when asked to testify in court.
The CPA 2024 introduces measures to make the process safer and more dignified. Witnesses can now give evidence via video link, protective screens, or other supportive arrangements. These provisions were also highlighted during pre-implementation trainings, ensuring that justice sector actors understand the Act’s focus on fairness, accountability, and rehabilitation.
These changes are designed to protect individuals from further harm while ensuring their voices are heard. This is a major step forward in strengthening trust in the justice system, particularly among groups who previously felt excluded or unprotected.
Building a People-Centred Justice System
The enactment of the CPA 2024 is the result of years of collaboration. UNDP played a central role by supporting legal reviews, facilitating consultations, and advocating for reforms that reflect the needs of people and align with international human rights standards. UNDP also worked with government and civil society partners to ensure the new law is inclusive, rights-based, and practical.
This effort builds on UNDP’s broader commitment to governance and rule of law in Sierra Leone, including support for the development of the Police Bill and the Mediation Bill. Together, these reforms represent a more modern and people-centred justice system.
The CPA 2024 is not just a legal reform, it is a promise of change. It brings faster trials, stronger protections for survivors, more humane sentencing options, and greater fairness for vulnerable groups. It shows that justice in Sierra Leone is moving closer to the people it is meant to serve.
As the country marks this milestone, the message is clear: every voice matters, every right counts, and every person deserves equal justice.
With the CPA 2024 now in force, and with justice sector actors trained ahead of time, Sierra Leone is laying the groundwork for a justice system that is more efficient, transparent, and accountable, one that no longer criminalizes poverty or status, but instead promotes fairness and equal treatment for all.
Related
content
content
