Theresa Sylvia Wyse didn't have it easy as a woman in a male-dominated trade. Now the CEO and Founder Of Colours Painting Company started her journey working as staff in the formal sector but without a college or university certificate  and later quit the job. She tried her hand at starting a business but it didn't work out and life became challenging.  Later she started cooking for people in nearby homes to sustain her livelihood pay rent provide for her child and still struggled. She was in a dilemma and she needed money for her upkeep.

 However Theresa's turning point came with the help of God. A friend sent her a radio as a birthday gift. She turned on the radio heard a pastor preaching and saw herself directly in the preaching. She started to come closer to God with all the mysteries she had underscored.

To her amazement she went to a lawyer's place and found dozens of paintings in a store. She requested a loan from the lawyer to start her career and met Lamin a like-minded guy who shared her passion for painting. She learned new techniques and styles from the internet that helped her refine her work. When she first decided to pursue her passion for painting she knew it wouldn't be an easy journey.

 She started with five staff and now has over fifty staff including fifteen females. Initially she didn't sell many pieces but never lost hope. She kept painting for free for friends who in turn helped share her work on social media to gain more recognition and earn customers.

People told her that it was a difficult field to break into that there was no guarantee of success and that she should consider a more practical profession. Despite the doubts of others Theresa refused to give up on her dream. She continued to paint whenever she could. However as a risk-taker she remained determined to succeed despite countless obstacles and challenges along the way.

Today Theresa is a successful painter who inspires other women to pursue their dreams and break down barriers in male-dominated fields. She continues to create stunning works of art that challenge the status quo and push boundaries proving that anything is possible with determination passion perseverance and directives from God.

Mariatu Alie 23 years old Electrician lives at Wellington Community- Freetown. She left her village to come to the city to learn a skill. “I was inspired by a female contractor who went to build a house in my town as she encouraged me to engage into something where I can earn money and provide for my family” she said. Upon my arrival in Freetown I decided to become an electrician.

“I love and I am proud of what I do because growth has taken place I don’t depend on anybody to provide my basic needs and I can support my parents as well in the village. She however urged her colleagues to engage into a skills as the fields are open to everyone and there is an adage that says “What a man can do a woman can do it better.”

She stated that she is challenged with gender injustice by her co-workers as most time she is left behind in term of decision making lack of working tools and means of accessing commercial vehicles to her working place. So pleaded to the government Informal Workers Organization (IWO) philanthropists and NGOs for capacity building and provide modern electronic equipment to expedite her work.

The labour crime needs assessment was an activity successfully undertaken at the male correctional center Pademba Road Freetown on the 3^rd May 2023 by Informal Workers Organization. As a regional labour and human rights non- governmental organization advocating for decent work for workers in the informal economy our research was focused on the minor labour crimes for which a very significant number of youth population are incarcerated and how this can be address to have a productive youthful population

Moreover the research did not cover all the categories of crimes and alleged crimes and offences committed at the male correctional center. Rather it focuses on certain crimes committed by workers in the informal economy during and within their work spaces in the informal economy/sector.  During the exercise a total number of 40 questionnaires were administered to the inmate of different ages and the crimes incarcerated for. Some of the categories of inmates interviewed in the informal economy/sector were commercial bike riders keke riders private security guards house helps care takers of other property mechanics carpenter fitters etc. The information gathered represents the view of the inmates in the facility.

Below are the objectives of the updating exercise

      To investigate whether there is labour crimes at the male correctional center

      To investigate the type of crimes committed for which the inmates are on trial or sentence

      To investigate the number of inmates on trial sentence and on remand

      To determine the number of inmates having legal representations at the correctional center

      To know the reform activities or training facilities available to the incarcerated inmates for the purposes of reforms

FINDINGS OF THE ASSESSMENT

1.      NATURE OF CRIMES; it was established that the inmate at the center were charged for the commission or having being suspected of committing different criminal offences and civic wrongs for which they have been tried and sentence or in remand for trial. Example of informal workers targeted for this research were carpenters traders private security guards commercial bike riders fitters/mechanics etc. and their offences ranges from fraudulent conversion traffic offences debts etc.

2.      HYGIENE CONDITIONS; the findings indicates that hygiene conditions at the Pademba Road male correctional center is environmentally friendly. In the center there is health facility/clinic in full operations for the provision of primary healthcare service and first aid to the inmates at the correctional services and constant power supply from EDSA and Standby generator.

3.      ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION; The finding reveals that access to justice for the inmates out of the 40 questionnaires administered 12 inmates which made up of 30% have access to legal representation provided by private legal practitioners or legal practitioners hired by the Legal Aid Board. Also the larger number of the total interviewed which is 28 inmates made up of 70% responded that they don’t have access to legal representation. For legal representation it was established that majority of the inmates at the facility do not have access to legal representation during the trial or hearing of their cases and some of the few that have legal representation complained that their lawyers sometimes do not appear in court to represent them whenever their cases are called-up. This issues of lack or absent of legal representation is one of the causes of overcrowding or congestion in the facility and long time in remand for a reasonable number of the inmates. It was also established that some inmates have spent more than two years in remand with no indictment.

4.      CUSTODY OF THE INMATES; the custody of the inmates at the Pademba Road male correctional center is arranged on different types. There are inmates in custody who have gone through the trial processes of the cases by competent courts of law and found guilty of the offences charged and have been sentenced for numbers of period specified by law.  A total number of inmates interviewed on sentenced is 13 which is 32.5% and the other categories of the inmates in custody at the facility are those currently standing trials whose cases have not yet be completed. They are said to be on remand or trial. A total number of inmates interviewed on remand/trial were 27 which made up of 67.5%. As sated above some inmates who are in remand is as a result of no indictment prepared against them. There are others who have been fined a certain amount of money to be paid for their release but cannot afford to pay.

5.      REFORM ACTIVITIES; at the Pademba Road male correctional center there are certain reform activities for the inmates who while in detention will be able to learn a trade or professions that will help them earn their living when they are release from custody. It will serve as job creation means and self-empowerment drives especially for the unskilled youths who are currently behind bars. It was also established that the reform activities are only provided to inmates who are serving their sentences. Inmates that are on trial are excluded from such facilities. From the total number of inmates interviewed 32 inmates who made of 80% are currently on reform activities such as computer training carpentry mason etc. while 8 inmates which made up of 20% are excluded from the reform facilities at the center. Also to have well advanced and  effective reform programs or activities for the inmates the reconstruction of the burnt training centres is very necessary and timely to help reform and capacitate the inmates before their release from custody. Such training or reform activities will enable them to quickly reintegrate back into societies after serving their sentences.

v  AGE BRACKETS; All the inmates interviewed were young and older adults. From the age distribution of the inmates interviewed it very clear that majority of inmates in the correctional centers across the country are young people mostly between the ages of 19 years to 35 years.

v  LEGAL PRACTITIONERS/LAWYERS SOME TIMES NOT SHOWING UP IN COURTS TO REPRESENT THEIR CLIENTS: during the research/assessment at the facility it was also discovered that inmates who have the opportunity to hire the services of legal practitioners to represent them in court have been let down or abandon by their lawyers. As a result of their absent the cases of their clients are not determined rather adjourned to another time. This over years has caused many inmates/clients to spend more time in detention or remand.

The Informal Workers Organization (IWO) as a regional Labour and human rights non- governmental organization that seeks to promote the rights dignity and welfare of informal workers in West Africa through advocacy lobbying research mediation case management and litigation and is thereby calling on the government Non- governmental organizations religious council civil society organizations and community actors to support advocate and raise awareness of the informal workers incarcerated;

      The concerns relating the commercial bike riders and keke riders been sentenced or on trial/remand without conspiring with the thieves should be released and agreements been made with the owners for payment of the machine within a reasonable time.

      Reconstruction of the burnt administrative building at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre.

      Speedily prosecution cases to de congest the facility. due to over congestion of the prison/facility with a reasonable number of the inmates been charged for civic wrongs/minor offenses and also certain inmates having spent years in custody/on trial it is but very necessary for the government and other legal service providing organizations to ensure speedily trial of cases for de-congestion of the prison/facility and to ensure timely sentences discharges and acquittal of cases as justice delayed is justice denied.

      Government and partners to establish and strengthen capacity building institutions and programs for male youths across the country.

      Government to establish counseling and intensify regulations on the use and sale of abusive substance/ drugs.

      Reforms activities to be extended to inmates on remand or trial.

      Penalties and checks to be instituted against legal practitioners who subsequently fail to represent their client in court. To ensure speedily trail of cases and access to justice for all as an organization we are also recommending for legal practitioners/lawyers who subsequently fail to represent their clients in court to be liable for the payment of damages to the clients.

      Inmates to do community services while on remand trial or sentenced.

      Paralegals and community leaders to mediate on minor cases.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT ON LABOUR CRIMES AT THE FEMALE CORRECTIONAL CENTER

The labour crime needs assessment was an activity successfully undertaken at the female correctional service Jomokenyatta Road Freetown on the 12^th April 2023 by Informal Workers Organization. As a regional labour and human rights non- governmental organization advocating for decent work for workers in the informal economy our research was focused on the minor labour crimes for which a very significant number of youth population are incarcerated and how this can be address to have a productive youthful population

Moreover the research did not cover all the categories of crimes and alleged crimes and offences committed at the female correctional center. Rather it focuses on certain crimes committed by workers in the informal economy during and within their work spaces in the informal economy/sector.  During the research a sample of the total inmates was targeted representing the whole. The information gathered represents the view of the inmates in the facility.

Below are the objectives of the updating exercise

• To investigate whether there is labour crime in the female correctional center
• To investigate the type of crimes committed for which the women are on trial or sentence
• To investigate the number of female on trial sentence and on remand
• To determine the number of people having legal representations
• To know the capacity building or training facilities available to the incarcerated women for the purposes of reforms

1.      NATURE OF THE CRIME; The finding indicates that inmates at the facility were charged for the commission or having being suspected of committing different offences of both criminal and civic natures from different parts of the country  for which they have been tried and sentenced or currently on trial/ remand. From the inmates interviewed some of the crimes/offences committed/allegedly committed were manslaughter fraudulent conversion riotous conducts and disorderly behaviors’ theft battery drug trafficking conspiracy etc. Also there were instances were accused were charged jointly and severally for the offences of riotous conducts and disorderly behaviors it was well established that majority of the women incarcerated for such offences are protesters or rioters of the August 10^th incident in Freetown Makeni Kamakwei and other parts of the country. Almost all of them are business women/petty traders (self-employed) in the informal economy. Though serving their sentences now all of the protesters interviewed claimed that they were not part of the protest rather in the streets trading to support their families. But it must have been suggested that they would have been charged for status offence or been directly involved in the riot or disorderly behaviours.

2.      HYGIENE CONDITIONS; the finding shows that the hygiene conditions of the facility and inmates were good. The premise of the facility was very clean at the time of our visit. The inmates at the center have the opportunity to sit together at a particular time in the facility to watch movies have funs and relax their minds. In the center there is a healthcare available to the inmates for the treatment of minor health issues.

3.      ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION; there are always challenges for access to justice for marginalized and vulnerable groups like the poor and women generally. This is no exception for the women at the female correctional centre in Freetown. Section(17) subsection(2) paragraph(b) of the 1991 Constitution Act No.6 of Sierra Leone provides that any arrest and detained person have the right to be inform about access to a legal representation of his/her choice. In this regard out of the 63 sample of inmates interviewed only 30 inmates have legal representations which made up of 47.6% of the total number of inmates interviewed and 33 inmates do not have legal representation which made up of 52.4% of the total number of inmates interviewed. Also apart from hiring the services of personal lawyers been expensive and challenging for the poor and marginalized there is an also free legal service provided to the inmate’s base on the nature of the offences committed by the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board to ensure access to justice for all quick trial of cases and decongestion of the facility/prison. Further some of the inmates who had or are having legal representations also submitted that sometimes their lawyers do not show up in court to represent them when their cases are called.

4.      CUSTODY OF THE INMATES; it is evidence that the female correctional center in Freetown is not over-populated or congested in anyway. The total number of female in incarceration at the facility is very minimal compare to the male correctional center at Pademba Road in Freetown. With that the custody of the inmates at the female correctional center varies as follow;  There are inmates in custody who have gone through their trial processes of their offences by competent courts of law and have been found guilty of the offences charged and have been sentenced for a  period specified by law. On the contrary to the custody of the inmates there is also another category of inmates in custody who since their incarceration are on trial or remand waiting proceedings to be completed and verdicts passed. With that analysis the total number of inmates interviewed who are serving their sentences is 47 which amount 74.6% of the total number of inmates interviewed. Also a total number of inmates interviewed who are on remand/trial is 16 which amount 25.4% amount the total number of inmates interviewed.

5.      REFORM ACTIVITIES; at the female correctional center at Jomokenyatta Road in Freetown there are certain reform activities/skill training programs for the inmates who while in detention will be able to learn a particular skill/trade/professions that will help them acquire knowledge to earn their living when they are release from custody or can even make money while still in custody by producing and selling different items. This will also serve as a means of job creation opportunity for them. At the canter some of reform activities available to the inmates are bead making bag making which is not sufficient for the inmates to keep them engaged and to enhance their capacity whilst in custody.

6.      AGE BRACKETS; All the inmates interviewed were young and older adults. From the age distribution of the inmates interviewed it very clear that majority of inmates in the correctional centers across the country are young people mostly between the ages of 19 years to 35 years.

7.      LEGAL PRACTITIONERS/LAWYERS SOME TIMES NOT SHOWING UP IN COURTS TO REPRESENT THEIR CLIENTS: during the research/assessment at the facility it was also discovered that inmates who have the opportunity to hire the services of legal practitioners to represent them in court have been let down or abandon by their lawyers. In many instances during our interviews with the inmates they complain that most times their lawyers do not show-up in courts to represent them when their cases are called up by the magistrates or the judges. As a result of their absent the cases of their clients are not determined rather adjourned to another time. This over years has caused many inmates/clients to spend more time in detention or remand.

The Informal Workers Organization (IWO) as a regional Labour and human right non- governmental organization that seeks to promote the rights dignity and welfare of informal workers in West Africa through public education advocacy lobbying research case management and litigation. IWO is calling on the government Non- governmental organizations religious council civil society organizations and community actors to advocate and raise awareness of informal workers incarcerated;

1.      Information on inmates on sentenced on their jail terms especially on the August 10^th rioters who need to be properly informed/educated on their prison or sentence term. During the interview with the inmates at the female correctional center it was revealed that 70% of the August 10^th rioters sentenced are not well informed or do not know their sentence duration. All of them are aware that they have been tried and sentenced for certain period but do not known the exact time or duration of their prison terms. In this regard we recommending for them to be properly informed/educated on their prison or sentence term.

2.      Speedily prosecution of cases to de-congest the facility and to enhance timely investigation of cases. To ensure fair trial and access to justice for all we are also recommending for quick and timely trial of cases to de-congest the facility and to ensure timely investigation and trial of all the cases charged for timely sentences discharges and acquittal of cases as justice delayed is justice denied. Speedily trail or investigation of cases should be a priority as it is one of the foundations of the operation of the rule of law in any democratic society.

3.     Expansion of reform activities at the female correctional center. We are recommending for advance and marketable programs to be introduce at the facility.

4.      Penalties and checks to be instituted against legal practitioners who subsequently fail to represent their clients in court. To ensure speedily trail of cases and access to justice for all as an organization we are also recommending for legal practitioners/lawyers who subsequently fail to represent their clients in court to be liable for the payment of damages to the clients. Also apart from payment of damages to their clients the General Council for Legal Education through the judiciary should also institute other administrative actions against such legal practitioners.

Bintu Kebbie a 33 years Blacksmith and wielder resides at 144 Pandemba Road- Freetown with two children. “I was inspired by my father who was a blacksmith and wielder and I have to learn from him after school.”  I write to the West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate and after which I choose blacksmith and wielding as a career in which I am deeply proud of myself.

I am proud with my job because I have impacted so many young people through apprenticeship and most of them have become financially independent. I can boast of providing for myself and my family and have purchased a plot of land.

She encouraged her colleague women who are not into any skills to try as much as they could to identify one in order to become financially independent to have a meaningful livelihood and empower themselves.

She confesses that challenges are bound to occur in every skills but overcoming them makes an individual become professional. “I am faced with gender injustice in my wielding shop as the only female amongst many men even when I am the boss. We are challenged with injuries inadequate wielding tools and the wielding shop is not standard as compare to others.

Christina K. Mannah a 32-year Keke rider lives at Lumbly- Freetown and single parent with three kids. Her parents couldn’t afford paying her school fees and she dropped out of school in class four but now engaging in riding a keke to sustain her life.  She got interested in the trade during the hard times in her early marriage. Her intention was to become a nurse but find herself riding keke to sustain her livelihood and she is scornful she went for it.

"I love what I do because I can proudly finance my house rent children's bills welfare and purchase some of the assets a woman can boast of having in her house."  She advised her compatriots to engage in skills work through apprenticeship to become financially independent and have a meaningful and sustainable livelihood and refrain from prostitution and other ill- acts in society. She divulges that there are sometimes challenges in the job as a woman like police harassment and gender injustices by the male- counterparts.

She thanked the Informal Workers Organization (IWO) for selecting her as an ambassador and given voice to occupy more space in the male-dominated trades as women have been neglected for a while.

Thursday the 6th of April 2023 the Informal Workers Organization (IWO) supports promoting Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment through gender inclusion for women in male-dominated professions (Kekeh riders Bike riders Welders Electricians and Painters) in Western Urban and Rural District in Sierra Leone to probe the inspirations successes and challenges for them working in the male-dominated occupations and as well served as IWO ambassadors. Women have been traditionally and socially nurtured to have divided jobs by gender but lately IWO IS constantly encouraging women to participate in male-dominated professions especially in the informal economy. It is high time as a nation to embrace gender equity for employment promotion and a better economy.

The Informal Workers Organisation (IWO) held its first stakeholders meeting funded by Open Society Foundations (OSF) at the Family Kingdom Conference Room to discuss an Overview of the Provision of Labor Laws and Policies and Challenges of Informal Workers in Sierra Leone to Enhance Decent Work for Informal Workers. The objectives are to know the services and opportunities provided/available to informal workers by MDA’s to identify the laws and policies available for the promotion and protection of informal workers in the MDA’s to have a clear understanding on whether the workers in the informal economy are aware or benefiting from the services opportunities laws and policies and to identify the key challenges faced by informal workers in Sierra Leone especially in the work spaces

 The meeting was in attendance by a representative from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Sierra Leone Labour Congress Action Aid Ministry of Social Welfare Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs Sierra Leone Committee on Labour in Parliament Ministry of Technical and Higher Education Ministry of Youth Affairs Advcoaid National Council for Civic Education and Development Ministry of Transport and Aviation and Directorates for the Traffic Department.

The CEO and Founder of the Informal Workers Organization Madam Chlecy Alma Heroe made a PowerPoint presentation and participants were formed into three groups for discussion and presentation. The engagement was participatory and participants specified the laws and policies and provisions available for the informal workers. Among many were the Employment Act 2023 Overseas Employment and Migrant Workers Act 2023 National Minimum Wage Sierra Leone Local Content Agency Act 2016 Anti-Human Trafficking Act 2005 National Social Security and Insurance Trust Act 2001 National Employment Policy National Labour Migration Policy National Social Protection Policy amongst many were identified and some of the challenges faced by the informal workers were presented and among many were long working hours low pay that does not meet the minimum wage lack of capacity building negative work ethics sexual gender-based violence lack of Social security lack of contractual agreement and many other more and third group presented on the ways to improve the conditions of services for the informal workers in Sierra Leone. They highlighted the provision of conducive market environment and WASH facilities wherever public market exists stipulating clear working hours for all informal workers reviewing and specifying minimum wage enforcing payment of wages and end-of-service benefits to informal workers enforcement of policy and social security development of a single document that encompasses all these provisions extending insurance scheme and continues civic education.

The Informal Workers Organizations (IWO) commemorates International Women's Day from the 7th to the 10th of March 2023 with Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutes and Market women in Western urban and Western Rural District on the theme; Education for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment with the view of popularizing the "GEWE" Act and reducing all forms of Sexual Gender- Based Violence (SGBV) against Women in the informal economy. Women in the middle-level manpower in the public and private spaces are faced with many challenges to discriminatory social norms and the deprivation of their fundamental human rights. Laws for the protection of women and girls from SGBV were made known to the public and the reporting channels for reporting cases of SGBV were made known to the participants as well.  

However the rightful bearers (beneficiaries) pleaded to the Informal Workers Organisation (IWO) for such engagement to be continuous to have a better understanding of the laws and policies that made provision for women in the Informal Economy.