GAPS IN SIERRA LEONE’S LAND LAWS: A HUMAN RIGHTS
PERSPECTIVE

Sierra Leone’s Customary Land Rights Act, 2022 (No. 20 of 2022) represents a historic shift in recognizing customary land ownership, gender equality, and
community participation.
It seeks to:

1. Recognize and protect customary land rights (Preamble; s. 3);
2. Eliminate discrimination in landholding (s. 4);
3. Guarantee gender equality in ownership and management (ss. 5–8);
4. Introduce Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) before any
   investment (s. 28);
5. Regulate large -scale land investments (ss. 26–34);
6. Protect ecologically sensitive areas (ss. 20–23); and
7. Provide redress for grievances (s. 44).