By: Daily Scope Reporter
Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay has held talks with senior UNESCO officials in Paris on harnessing Artificial Intelligence to reform Sierra Leone’s justice system while upholding ethical and human rights standards.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Minister’s engagements in the French capital. Discussions centered on UNESCO’s global initiative to support the responsible deployment of AI in judicial and legal institutions, and how Sierra Leone can align with the program as part of its ongoing justice sector reforms.
Speaking during the engagement, Minister Sesay said AI is already reshaping how justice is administered, particularly in areas such as legal research, case management, evidence analysis, and court administration. He noted that while the technology offers major opportunities to improve efficiency, access, and the quality of justice delivery, its rollout must be anchored in safeguards that protect due process, judicial independence, transparency, accountability, and fundamental rights.
The talks also focused on UNESCO’s “AI, Justice and Rule of Law” programme, which seeks to build the capacity of judicial officers and legal institutions to integrate AI tools in ways that are ethical, rights-based, and consistent with international norms.
Sesay reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to joining global efforts to promote responsible AI use in the justice sector. He stressed that innovation must be matched with strong governance and principled leadership to ensure digital transformation strengthens, rather than undermines, public trust.
The Minister further indicated that government will deepen collaboration with UNESCO to ensure AI is deployed responsibly to improve service delivery, boost confidence in state institutions, and reinforce the rule of law across the country.
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