Chief Justice Kamanda Warns Against Traditional Gender Roles In Judicial Reasoning
THE LEAD HOTEL, FREETOWN — 7 September 2026:
The Honourable Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, His Lordship Justice Komba Kamanda, has called on African judiciaries to adopt stronger, gender-sensitive approaches to the interpretation and enforcement of women’s health and reproductive rights.
Chief Justice Kamanda made the call while delivering the keynote address at a Regional Judicial Colloquium organised by the Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) and the Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria, South Africa. The colloquium focused on the judicial enforcement of Article 14 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, commonly known as the Maputo Protocol, which guarantees women’s sexual and reproductive health rights.
In his keynote address, Chief Justice Kamanda urged courts across Africa to ensure that rights guaranteed under African and international human-rights instruments are translated into practical realities for women and girls, rather than remaining merely “aspirational promises”.
He emphasised that Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol should be interpreted alongside Article 16 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees every individual the right to enjoy the best attainable state of physical and mental health.
The Chief Justice further urged judges to carefully consider the practical impact of laws and judicial decisions on women and girls, particularly those who experience unequal bargaining power, economic dependence, gender-based violence, stigma, discrimination, or limited access to healthcare and legal assistance.
He cautioned judicial officers against allowing stereotypes relating to motherhood, sexuality, marriage, family responsibilities and traditional gender roles to influence judicial reasoning, assessment of evidence or determinations of credibility.
“True impartiality requires the court to approach each case without stereotypes or preconceived assumptions,” Chief Justice Kamanda stated.
He called for the interpretation and enforcement of women’s rights to be firmly grounded in the principles of human dignity, equality and non-discrimination, while recognising Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol as an enforceable human-rights commitment.
Chief Justice Kamanda also stressed the importance of effective judicial remedies, calling for strengthened judicial training in gender-sensitive adjudication and African human-rights law. He encouraged greater judicial dialogue and the sharing of progressive jurisprudence and best practices among African jurisdictions.
According to the Chief Justice, access to justice must go beyond the formal availability of courts. It must be meaningful, accessible and capable of producing effective outcomes. He identified access to accurate information, affordable legal assistance, comprehensible court procedures, protection from intimidation and retaliation, gender-sensitive judicial officers and enforceable decisions as essential components of meaningful access to justice.
Chief Justice Kamanda noted the progress Sierra Leone has made in strengthening legal and institutional protections for women and girls, while underscoring the critical role of the Judiciary in ensuring that these commitments translate into effective protection and access to justice.
Regional Judicial Collaboration
In his remarks, the Programmes Director of the Africa Judges and Jurists Forum, Honourable Dr. Justice Alfred Mavedzenge, said the colloquium provided an important platform for examining how African courts can give practical effect to Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol through gender-sensitive interpretation and adjudication.
He noted that legal recognition of rights, on its own, does not necessarily guarantee their enjoyment by women and girls, pointing to continuing legal, institutional, socio-cultural and economic barriers to sexual and reproductive healthcare.
Also speaking at the colloquium, the President of Legal Access through Women Yearning for Equality, Rights and Social Justice (LAWYERS), Madam Menisa Sesay, expressed appreciation to the Africa Judges and Jurists Forum and the Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria for convening what she described as a timely and important dialogue on women’s health and reproductive rights.
Madam Sesay underscored that women’s health and reproductive rights are fundamental human rights, and stressed the importance of continued collaboration among justice-sector institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders in advancing these rights.
The Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, Professor Nkatha Murungi, also addressed the colloquium virtually. She provided participants with an overview of the Centre’s work and its commitment to advancing human rights, justice and constitutionalism across Africa.
The Regional Judicial Colloquium brought together judicial officers, legal practitioners, human-rights experts and other stakeholders to examine the role of African courts in advancing women’s sexual and reproductive health rights and strengthening the implementation of Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol.
Declaring the colloquium officially open, Chief Justice Kamanda urged participants to use the engagement to strengthen human-rights jurisprudence, improve judicial practice and deepen cooperation and knowledge-sharing among African judiciaries.
The Judiciary of Sierra Leone remains committed to strengthening access to justice, upholding human rights and ensuring that judicial processes contribute meaningfully to the protection of women and girls.
For further information, please contact the Communications and Public Affairs Unit of the Judiciary of Sierra Leone or visit the Judiciary’s official website at www.judiciary.gov.sl and follow its official social media platforms.
