Title: AdvocAid welcomes new Executive Director and Legal Officer
Year: 2018
AdvocAid is pleased to announce the arrival of our new Executive Director, Rebecca Wood, who took up the role September 2018. In addition, we are also proud to welcome Josephine Feimata Hinga as our interim Legal Officer.
Rebecca Wood and Josephine Hinga at Advocaid’s Upper Brook Street Office
Rebecca Wood has worked in Sierra Leone for over five years with BBC Media Action and brings excellent programme management, fundraising and communications skills to the role. She is passionate about supporting vulnerable women and will be an asset to our growing organisation. Upon joining the team, Rebecca said:
“I have admired AdvocAid’s work throughout my time in Sierra Leone. I am delighted to join the team and continue AdvocAid’s excellent work providing access to justice for women and girls.”
Rebecca’s background in communication for development will be invaluable to AdvocAid’s expanding legal education and policy reform work. She is joining our team after a period a transition in which Daniel Eyre has been serving as Interim Executive Director. We thank him warmly for his engagement and wish him the best on his journey on. Simitie Lavaly, former Executive Director, said:
“It is hard to hand over the mantle of an organisation I feel so passionate about, but I feel safe doing so in the knowledge that Rebecca has the skills and talent to take AdvocAid forward to greater heights.”
Our interim Legal Officer, Josephine Feimata Hinga, is an experienced lawyer, having worked as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of Sierra Leone. Josephine will take on the role for a year, whilst Cheryl Sembie pursues a Master’s in Human Rights Law.
Josephine said:
“It feels good to be part of AdvocAid. My dream has always been to work for women and girls – and I feel that our work is particularly relevant as it helps the most vulnerable. The joy of being able to help them greatly motivates me.”
– ENDS –
AdvocAid works with vulnerable girls and women caught up in Sierra Leone’s legal system. Founded in 2006, it is the only organisation in Sierra Leone providing a holistic service including free legal representation, education, welfare and rehabilitation support to women and girls in conflict with the law. AdvocAid works in six towns across Sierra Leone to ensure women and their children have access to justice, are educated on their legal rights and offered rehabilitation support upon release.
For more details on our activities, please visit our website http://advocaidsl.org/ or drop us an email at info@advocaidsl.org. A recently published Al Jazeera photo report on our work is also available here.