Community Action for Human Security (CAHSec)

Who we are

Community Action for Human Security (CAHSec) is a civil society organisation formed on 25 March 2007. It is one of the leading civil society organisations in Sierra Leone on the protection and promotion of human rights and on advocating for sustainable good-governance practices.

CAHSec works with local communities on protection, education and livelihood, including land governance and responsible large-scale agricultural investment. It has led popularization of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Bombali, Tonkolili and Moyamba Districts, and is a lead advocate in the district on GBV, with a focus on SGBV and FGM, so that women and girls enjoy dignity and respect for their fundamental human rights.

Thematic focus

**Protection:** GBV/SGBV, child labour, teenage pregnancy, early marriage, monitoring, victim support and inheritance rights.

**Education:** School outreach, educational promotions, popularization of laws, radio discussions, awareness-raising meetings, school clubs and groups, public lectures and school debates.

**Livelihood:** Agricultural support, environmental protection, land governance and rights, disaster and risk reduction, and property rights.

Record of work

- Took an active role in stakeholder discussions for the Child Rights Act 2007 and the three Gender Justice Laws (Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act, Domestic Violence Act, and Devolution of Estates Act). - In 2011, led popularization of the Local Courts Act 2011 in the North for 413 local court clerks and 389 local court chairpersons. - Participated in consultations on the Sexual Offences Act 2012 and led its popularization in the North with UNDP support. - Has supported 718 convictions since 2012 in cases involving children (including sexual touching, child prostitution, child pornography, child labour, child trafficking and child neglect), covering transport, accommodation and court attendance for victims and relatives. - Has supported 386 convictions in domestic violence, human trafficking and other offences involving adults. - In 2023, supported chiefdom development plans for Simiria and Dansongoia so that resources extracted from those chiefdoms also benefit them. - With SiLNoRF, constructed a hand-dug well and drying floor and supported farmers in Bombali Shebora, Makerie and Mara chiefdoms, and established 37 farmer-based organisations now transformed into cooperatives. - Established an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) unit and grievance-redress mechanisms in operational communities.

Team

Founded by Osman Koroma, Abass J. Kamara, the late Minkailu Kamara, Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawalie, Mrs Amos Kargbo and others.

- Peter Conteh — National Coordinator - Ibrahim M. Bangura — Administrative Officer - Grace Mary Gbeto, Ramatu Sankoh and Kumba Mattia — Social workers - Hassan Mohamed Kamara — Field staff, with five volunteers

Partners

SiLNoRF, Women, Peace and Security (WPS), the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, the District Multi-Stakeholder Platform, NAMATI, Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD), and the Bombali District Human Rights Committee.

Operational districts

CAHSec operates mainly in Bombali, Tonkolili, Port Loko and Moyamba, and supports GBV cases from Karene, Koinadugu and Falaba. The head office is at 95 Azzolini Highway, Makeni.