1/2009 Delivering Justice to Sierra Leone’s Poor An Analysis of the Work of Timap for Justice Pamela Dale* * Comments and questions are welcome, and should be addressed to Pamela Dale ([email protected]). For questions on the World Bank‘s Justice for the Poor program in Sierra Leone, please contact Gibrill Jalloh ([email protected]), Lyttelton Braima ([email protected]), or [email protected]. DISCLAIMER Publications produced by the World Bank‘s Justice for the Poor program are intended to contribute to understanding, discussion, and debate on the practical and theoretical issues surrounding justice and governance reform. These publications provide the opportunity for a diverse array of authors to present interesting and up-to-date findings, tools, and lessons learned. Feedback from readers is encouraged, and should be sent to the author(s) at [email protected]. Though all J4P publications have undergone internal review to ensure factual accuracy and professional-quality research, the views expressed in these publications are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect those of the World Bank, the Justice for the Poor program, or the program‘s funders and partners. Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................... iii Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... iv I. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 Aims of the Report ...................................................................................................................... 1 Overview of Timap for Justice ......................................................................................................... 1 J4P Program and Researchers ...................................................................................................... 2 II. Research Methodology ..................................................................................................... 3 Research Design ........................................................................................................................... 3 The Interview Process .................................................................................................................. 3 Study Location and Duration ....................................................................................................... 4 Case Selection .............................................................................................................................. 5 Attrition in Cases ........................................................................................................................ 6 Issues of Confidentiality ............................................................................................................... 6 Notes on Terminology and Use of Quotations ............................................................................. 7 Terminology ................................................................................................................................ 7 Use of Quotations ........................................................................................................................ 8 III. Findings: Who Uses Timap, for Which Cases, and Why? .............................................. 8 Client Characteristics .................................................................................................................... 8 Gender ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Age ........................................................................................................................................... 9 Income and Occupation................................................................................................................ 10 Why are Disputes Taken to Timap? ............................................................................................. 12 Free, Fast and Fair: Timap‘s Three Biggest Draws ......................................................................... 12 Bringing Justice Closer to Home .................................................................................................... 14 IV. Findings: Sources of Information and Understanding of Timap ................................ 15 Sources of Information .............................................................................................................. 15 Understanding of Timap’s Roles and Goals ................................................................................. 17 V. Translating Theory into Practice ....................................................................................... 19 Theory ....................................................................................................................................... 19 Practice ...................................................................................................................................... 20 Understanding Local Conceptions of Justice and Negotiating Multiple Rule Systems ................................ 20 Relationships with Traditional Leaders .......................................................................................... 22 Collaborative Searches for Solutions ............................................................................................... 25 Power of the Pen ........................................................................................................................ 26 Reaching Agreement – Strategies and Constraints ............................................................................ 27 Human Rights Advocacy and Education ........................................................................................ 29 Litigation Power ........................................................................................................................ 30 VI. Observed Impacts ........................................................................................................... 33 Empowerment ........................................................................................................................... 33 Empowerment of Women ............................................................................................................. 34 Empowerment of Youth ............................................................................................................... 35 Impacts on Institutions .............................................................................................................. 37 VII. Areas for Improvement ................................................................................................... 40 Case-File Management ............................................................................................................... 41 Enforcement of Agreements ...................................................................................................... 41 VIII. Client Feedback and Recommendations................................................................... 43 Feedback .................................................................................................................................... 43 Recommendations from Respondents ........................................................................................ 45 IX. Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................................. 46 Improving Case-File Management ................................................................................................. 46 Sensitization, Information and Branding ........................................................................................ 46 Conflicts of Interest and Inappropriate Behavior ............................................................................... 47 Rights Education and Advocacy .................................................................................................... 47 Transportation ........................................................................................................................... 47 Future Evaluations of Timap’s Work ............................................................................................ 47 Enforcement .............................................................................................................................. 48 Annex A: Question Guide ........................................................................................................... 49 Annex B: Map of Timap Offices in Sierra Leone ...................................................................... 67 Text Boxes and Charts Chart 1: Age Distribution of Timap Participants 9 Chart 2: Case Types (All Offices) 10 Chart 3: Cases by Age Group 11 Chart 4: Case Type by Gender 11 Chart 5: Source of First Information about Timap 15 Chart 6: Source of Information by Gender 16 Chart 7: Can respondents clearly explain Timap’s purpose and methods? 17 Chart 8: Satisfaction by Paralegal 18 Box 1: Negotiating Tradition to Secure a Child‘s Future 21 Box 2: Death, Taxes, and Secret Society