Committed to creating a fair and inclusive society where women, girls, and marginalized groups can thrive.
The Center for Gender and Social Justice is a trailblazing organization dedicated to promoting gender equality and addressing systemic injustices that disproportionately affect women, girls, and marginalized groups in Sierra Leone. Through advocacy, empowerment, and support, we work to dismantle barriers and create a society where every individual has the opportunity to thrive, free from violence and discrimination.
Our mission is to champion gender justice, amplify women's rights, and foster a society where every woman and girl can participate fully, freely, and safely. Through advocacy, legal assistance, education, and economic empowerment, we aim to create an inclusive environment where gender equality is upheld, and social justice is accessible to all.
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remains a critical issue in Sierra Leone, disproportionately affecting women, girls, and marginalized groups. At the Center for Gender and Social Justice, we are committed to eliminating all forms of violence by providing survivors with the resources and support they need to heal and thrive while addressing the root causes of this pervasive issue.
Legal Support
Psychosocial Support
Community Awareness
Emergency Response
Help us break the cycle of violence. Volunteer, donate, or partner with us to create a future where no woman or girl has to suffer from violence and discrimination.
Our advocacy program seeks to ensure that women's rights are respected and upheld by influencing gender-sensitive policies and laws. By working in close collaboration with government bodies, NGOs, and community organizations, we aim to make gender equality a national priority and inspire policy changes that uplift women and girls.
Through our outreach initiatives, we conduct workshops, awareness campaigns, and community programs that educate individuals on women's rights, equality, and inclusion. These activities encourage active community participation and build an environment where women and girls feel safe and valued.
Our legal team provides free or affordable legal support to women and girls who are survivors of gender-based violence or face social injustices. With our resident lawyers and paralegals, we work to ensure that every woman, regardless of her background, can access the justice and protection she deserves.
Collaboration is key to our success. Whether you represent a government body, NGO, corporate organization, or community group, we welcome partnerships that advance our shared goals. Let’s work together to bring gender justice, support, and opportunities to women and girls across Sierra Leone.
Janisa Edwina Francess Momodu Esq
Janisa Edwina Francess Momodu is a passionate gender advocate, seasoned legal practitioner, and development expert from Sierra Leone, committed to advancing women’s rights, promoting social justice, and tackling gender-based violence (GBV). She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Gender and Social Justice (CGSJ), where she leads the Empower Her Initiative, a flagship program championing legal empowerment, economic resilience, and leadership development for women and girls across the country.
Janisa is a qualified lawyer with an impressive academic and professional portfolio. She holds a Diploma in History and African Studies, a Bachelor of Arts (BA), an LLB (Hons), and a Barrister-at-Law (BL) from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. She also earned a Higher Diploma in International Criminal Law from the Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights in Italy and a Master’s degree in Gender, Globalisation, and Rights from the University of Galway, Ireland.
Her legal and public service journey includes work at the Law Officers' Department and a key role in Sierra Leone’s Commission of Inquiry, where she contributed to strengthening the country's accountability and justice systems. She has led numerous projects focused on GBV prevention, legal access for women, and community empowerment, bridging the gap between policy and grassroots realities.
Janisa’s work is grounded in her belief that law must be a force for transformation. She provides legal support on issues such as customary marriage registration, inheritance rights, national ID access, child custody, and maintenance, ensuring that women, especially those most marginalised, can access justice with dignity and confidence.
As a researcher, she has conducted in-depth studies on the socio-economic impact of GBV on women’s livelihoods in Freetown, pushing for policy reforms that reflect women's lived experiences. Her leadership extends to national economic governance. In recognition of her expertise, she was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Bank of Sierra Leone, bringing a gender and development lens to high-level decision-making.
Janisa Edwina Francess Momodu continues to be a formidable force for gender equality in Sierra Leone and beyond. Her work inspires change, amplifies women's voices, and reaffirms that sustainable development can only be achieved when women are empowered, protected, and heard.
Binta Mansaray was appointed Registrar of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2014. She previously served as Registrar of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, a post she held from 2009 (initially Acting) to December 2013, when the Special Court closed upon the successful completion of its mandate. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Registrar and, beginning in 2003, as Outreach Coordinator.
As Outreach Coordinator, Ms. Mansaray designed the Court's widely acclaimed Grassroots Programme to keep the people of Sierra Leone informed about the Special Court and its trials. As Outreach Coordinator, Ms. Mansaray built on her experience as an advocate for victims of Sierra Leone's civil war - women, girls and adolescent ex-combatants - while working with several prominent civil society and non-governmental organizations and as a consultant to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).
Ms. Mansaray is a graduate of the University of Sierra Leone, with Masters degrees from Fordham University and the American University in Washington, DC
Abdul Tejan-Cole is a legal practitioner with over 30 years of experience in transitional justice, human rights, governance, and the rule of law. Holding degrees from the University of Sierra Leone and University College London, Abdul has practiced law since 1991. He served as a prosecutor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone and has played key roles in transitional justice processes in South Sudan, The Gambia, and Liberia. His contributions to Sierra Leone’s justice system include work on the DFID-funded Justice Sector Development Project.
A prolific scholar, Abdul’s recent publication, Thirty Years of the Sierra Leone Constitution: Reflections on its Past and Future, underscores his dedication to legal reform. Skilled in quantitative and qualitative research, he has managed numerous projects and earned recognition, including as a Yale World Fellow and recipient of the Human Rights Watch Annual Award.
JUSTICE MIATTA MARIA SAMBA is a Sierra Leonean jurist and current Judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. Prior to joining the ICC, Judge Miatta Maria Samba served as a senior Judge, Justice of the Supreme Court of the judiciary of Sierra Leone, having served and as Justice of the Court of Appeals and Justice of the High Court of Sierra Leone, adjudicating complex criminal cases, particularly having to do with corruption, theft and sexual violence. She led the prosecution of high-profile cases at the Anti-Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone and represented, on a pro-bono basis, victims of sexual offences, particularly cases involving minors. Justice Samba was Chair of the Legal Aid Board for Sierra Leone, which regulates the provision of legal representation for indigent persons. She lectured Criminal Law and Contracr Law at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
Professional career
Justice Samba has extensive experience from international criminal justice institutions. She was a Judge of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone since January 2020. She was (2006-2010) employed with the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor as a Field Operations Officer based in Uganda. Between 2002-2006, she worked for the Prosecutor's Office of the Special Court of Sierra Leone, where she was involved in the investigation, management and prosecution of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Education
Justice Samba holds a Bachelor of Arts and an LL.B (Hons) degrees from the University of Sierra Leone, a License to practise law as Utter Barrister from the Sierra Leone Law School, and LL.M degrees from the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa and the Centre for Petroleum Law and Policy, University of Dundee in Scotland. She is a member of the International Association of Female Judges, as well as the Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges' Association.
Advocate for gender justice, dedicated to ensuring that every woman and girl across Sierra Leone has equal opportunities to participate meaningfully in society.
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