Board member and Co-Founder

Sabrina Mahtani is AdvocAid’s Co-Founder and former Executive Director, stepping down in July 2014 to become a member of the Board. Sabrina is a British-Zambian lawyer specialising in criminal justice and women’s rights and has worked on human rights projects in Sierra Leone since 2005. She previously managed Amnesty International’s research and advocacy work across Anglophone West Africa and, since 2019, leads The Elders’ new access to justice programme.

What drives you to work for AdvocAid? We are a small organisation making a real difference to many forgotten girls and women. The AdvocAid staff (or “fambul” as we say – family) encourage me with their dedication and passion for justice. As the child of a former prisoner, I know that imprisonment has a much wider impact than just the individual. AdvocAid’s work to ensure access to justice and dignity for women and girls in conflict with the law is vital.

What is your proudest moment with AdvocAid? There are so many but the day MK was released, the longest serving woman on death row, is a day I will never forget. I first met MK in Pademba Road prison in 2005 and she was one of my inspirations for co-founding AdvocAid.

What do you love about Sierra Leone? Its beauty, warmth, community and resilience. It is my third home.