Global Research Society Publisher
GRS Publisher Open Access Policy
Introduction
GRS Publisher is committed to advancing knowledge and fostering collaboration
through open access publishing. Our open access policy ensures that research is
freely accessible to all, promoting wider dissemination and engagement with
scholarly work.
Definition of Open Access
Open access (OA) refers to the practice of providing unrestricted access to
scholarly research outputs, including journal articles, books, and other
academic publications. All materials published under this policy are freely
available to read, download, and share, without financial, legal, or
technical barriers.
Mission and Vision
Our Mission
Our mission is to publish rigorous, peer-reviewed scholarly work that contributes to the
advancement of science, education, and society. We strive to maintain the highest
standards of integrity and quality in all our publications, ensuring that each piece of
research is a valuable resource for the academic community and beyond.
We envision a world where knowledge is freely accessible to all, empowering researchers,
students, and the general public to engage with and contribute to the global dialogue of
ideas. Our commitment to open access ensures that research can be disseminated widely,
promoting collaboration and discovery.
Our Vision
We envision a world where knowledge is freely accessible to all, empowering researchers,
students, and the general public to engage with and contribute to the global dialogue of
ideas. Our commitment to open access ensures that research can be disseminated widely,
promoting collaboration and discovery.
Indexing
Latest Article
4. Bridging Justice Gap to Fulfill the Promise of Law in Sierra Leone
8
Umaru Afiz Akchievere Sesay*
American University Washington College of Law, Washington, DC, United States.
01-11
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19449159
While human rights are inherent in all individuals, such rights remain inaccessible for many because of structural, legal, and socio-economic barriers. Globally, over 1.5 billion people are unable to resolve their legal problems, and in Sierra Leone, as in many other African countries, nearly 85% of citizens rely on the customary justice system because of the country’s bifurcated legal order, leaving the poor and marginalized especially vulnerable. This article employs a doctrinal methodology to examine how legal aid services can bridge the justice gap and fulfill the promise of law in Sierra Leone, particularly for vulnerable populations. The article understands the promise of law as the assurance of equal justice, the safeguarding of human dignity, and the principle that no one is above or beneath the protection of the law. Despite the enactment of the Legal Aid Act 2012, the article argues that implementation of the legal aid scheme remains weak because of limited funding, insufficient state accountability, and inadequate integration of paralegals and community-based justice services. The study concludes that, when effectively implemented, legal aid must extend beyond mere courtroom representation to include legal literacy, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and grassroots justice delivery systems, and accordingly recommends the adoption of targeted and coordinated reforms involving key stakeholders, including the government, the legal profession, Civil Society Organisations, universities, and Sierra Leone’s General Legal Council, in order to ensure that legal aid evolves from a purely constitutional guarantee into a practical and accessible reality for all.