Lately, I have been researching legal aid organizations around the world to learn more about other access to justice models that provide effective legal assistance to the poor. Thankfully, I stumbled upon the gem that is BRAC: who knew they had a ‘legal empowerment‘ arm?
BRAC’s Human Rights and Legal Services (HRLS) program provides legal education, legal aid and support services to protect marginalised communities from discrimination and exploitation in order to ensure access to justice for the poor through both formal and informal systems. Their work goes beyond the scope of legal representation and reflects BRAC’s awareness of the current socio-economic context and the underlying causes of vulnerability.
Their work has the following 3 components:
Capacity Building
BRAC holds workshops with community leaders to increase gender/human rights awareness – which is a first step to reducing corruption and structural mistreatment of women within the government and communities. More than 15,000 community leaders attended these training workshops in 2008. By educating people at all levels, understanding of the legal system becomes common knowledge and translates into sustainable change. Following workshops, community leaders form a committee and make a commitment to promote fair treatment and proper implementation of laws throughout the region.
Legal Aid Services
In 1998, BRAC began the Legal Aid Programme to provide legal support and make the courts accessible to the poor. The HRLS programme operates 541 clinics in 61 districts of Bangladesh and is the largest NGO-led legal aid programme in the world. Over the past ten years, the Legal Aid Programme has grown to include the Alternative Dispute Resolution Programme, expanded legal offices and counsels, gender awareness training, and village-based law implementation committees. The focus has thus shifted from education to empowered action to improve legal legislation and the judicial system. Over the last five years, HRLS has provided legal aid support to 340 victims of acid throwing. They also do important work in representing individuals accused of a crime in Dhaka, working to clear out the prisons and alleviate overcrowding and horrible prison conditions.
Rights Awareness & Legal Literacy
Last, but not least – I am especially impressed by the following innovations:
- Barefoot Lawyers: Shebikas (female paralegal volunteers) also referred to as “barefoot lawyers” provide legal support to women in villages. By teaching the Human Rights & Legal Education course, Shebikas establish social networks in the community and are able to quickly support and rescue victims. To make legal representation sustainable, the barefoot lawyers pose as critical leaders and access points within the community. With increased points of contact within the community, rural women can stay connected to the legal system and pursue formal and informal legal services via their own initiative.
- Human Rights and Legal Education: Without the basic knowledge of the laws and the legal system, women cannot protect themselves or others in the community. The Human Rights and Legal Education (HRLE) programme primarily targets women at the village level to increase legal awareness, improve understanding of the judiciary system and ultimately influence behavioural change. Focusing on laws, legal systems and methods for seeking help, HRLE is for many women their first exposure to the concept of legal and human rights. Since its inception, 3.5 million women have been educated through HRLE. Following the HRLE course, three women from each class form a law implementation committee (LIC) acting as observers in the community who help in conflict mediation and ensure access to legal resources. The LIC further raises awareness about legal rights and seeks to educate village courts of existing laws.
Needless to say, I am quite impressed by their work in legal empowerment as well as their comprehensive reports and studies done to evaluate the need and the effectiveness of their programs in Bangladesh. Especially after the latest Greg Mortenson scandal, I am always looking for concrete monitoring and evaluations done by NGOs. Check out this excellent report for a good review of the impact of BRAC and other Bangladeshi legal aid organizations: Legal Empowerment Strategies in Bangladesh: Empowering Women and Poor People through Legal Means.
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