 Melron C. Nicol-Wilson. Mr.
Nicol-Wilson is the Director of the Lawyers Center for Legal Assistance
(LAWCLA) based in Freetown, Sierra Leone. I first heard about Melron
when I attended the All Works of Life (AWOL) Awards in Freetown this
past December, where he received the Lawyer of the Year Award. What amazed
me about this award, apart from the others that were announced, is the
reaction it received from the audience. Coincidentally, Mr. Nicol-Wilson
was the only nominee for this award, and therefore, a sure win. As they
announced his name, the audience cheered and I thought to myself, this
must be a very famous man.
The announcer then raised his voice (amidst the audience’s cheer)
to read Mr. Nicol-Wilson’s achievements. To name a few, he holds
several degrees: a Bachelors Degree in Law with Honors from Fourah Bay
College University; a Barrister-at-Law Degree from the Sierra Leone Law
School; and a Masters Degree in Human Rights Law from the University
of Pretoria in South Africa. He is a Sierra Leonean lawyer with a focus
on Legal Aid, Criminal Defense and Human Rights.
Along with three others, Mr. Nicol-Wilson founded the Lawyers Center
for Legal Assistance (LAWCLA) in 2001. The organization only represents
those unable to pay for legal service. In order for a person to receive
such assistance, the recipient must be indigent, answer a questionnaire
and other requirements.
Mr. Nicol-Wilson became inspired to form an organization such as LAWCLA
while a refugee in Namibia after the coup of 1997. As he had to extend
his visa, he sought help from an organization, Legal Assistance Centre,
which provided legal assistance for refugees and asylum seekers free
of charge. He was so impressed with the organization that he decided
to found a similar center in Sierra Leone. He felt that his center, would
address the issues facing Sierra Leonean citizens, such as the “deplorable
human rights situation in the country and the limited access to justice
and the law”.
After completing his masters and other degrees, Mr. Nicol-Wilson returned
to Sierra Leone. He states that he wanted to “contribute to the
development of the Rule of Law and Justice through LAWCLA.” The
knowledge that he acquired abroad should be shared and used to develop
his country. He hopes to use LAWCLA to lobby for the establishment of
a Legal Aid Board, which will provide destitute Sierra Leoneans access
to free legal aid. Through his work with LAWCLA, he intends to “create
a culture of human rights in the country thereby replacing a culture
of human wrongs by individuals and the State.”
As with many Post-Conflict countries, Sierra Leone has not only experienced
a devastating impact on its economy, but also its social welfare system. According to Mr. Nicol-Wilson, some of
the most pressing human rights issues facing Sierra Leone today are:
- Limited access to justice and the law by poor people
- Over incarceration of accused persons in police stations and prisons
throughout the country.
- The existence of discriminating legal provisions against women
- The absence of separate detention facilities for juveniles in the provinces
of Sierra Leone
- Absence of a reparation plan for victims of human rights abuses during
the civil conflict
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To address these issues, LAWCLA has provided free legal advice and representation
to detainees and those who cannot afford otherwise; and is advocating for
the construction of a juvenile detention facility in order to prevent juveniles
from being confined with adults. The center is also conducting several
researches as a way to combat some of the prevailing human rights issues
in Sierra Leone, one of those titled Discriminatory Laws against Women
in Sierra Leone – An urgent need for reform.
As Mr. Nicol-Wilson is a defense lawyer, he is currently one of the
lawyers representing one of those accused for crimes against humanity
in the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Since the defendant is unable
to pay for legal service, the Special Court provided one for him. Mr.
Nicol-Wilson states, “I therefore see my defense work with the
Special Court as an extension of the work of the centre – providing
free Legal services to those that cannot afford to pay.”
Being a human rights lawyer does not come without its trials and tribulations.
There are obstacles such as influencing the attitudes of law enforcement
officials about human rights issues. Problems also arise with logistics,
such as transportation, due to poor roads, and insufficient funds to
hire more staff. Nevertheless, Mr. Nicol-Wilson stresses that the most
rewarding aspect of his job is “seeing that[his] contribution to
the development of the justice sector is being appreciated by Sierra
Leoneans not only in Sierra Leone but even abroad...”
From my interview with Mr. Nicol-Wilson, I understand why he received
such an outstanding ovation at the award ceremony. His work in Sierra
Leone is that of a true patriot. One of those I thought lost during the
11 years civil war.
For more information about Lawyers Center for Legal Assistance (LAWCLA)
or to donate to the organization, visit:
Lawyers Center for Legal Assistance
(LAWCLA)
Tel: +232-22-240440
Fax: +232-22-236019
Email: lawcla@justice.com
Head Office: 15D Old Railway Line
Brookfields, Freetown
Sierra Leone.
Written by Mamesho Macaulay
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