Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles is the first Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board. She has been credited with transforming the scheme into the largest legal aid organization with offices and paralegals in fourteen of sixteen districts in the country.
Under her stewardship, the Board has carved a niche in the provision of primary justice services through the work of paralegals in remote communities across the country. It is also one of the lead organizations in implementing Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Carlton-Hanciles worked at the Special Court for Sierra Leone and rose to Principal Defender. The only Sierra Leonean to have held that position. She is passionate about the poor and vulnerable for which the Board has won dozens of awards.
Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles will participate in the World Justice Forum working session Agenda 2030: Approaches to Nationalizing and Implementing Goal 16 and Access to Justice.