10 April 2022, Butwal: With an aim of strengthening access to justice for people, particularly those belonging to the marginalized and Dalit community and detainees, Advocacy Forum-Nepal (AF) in coordination with Dalit Mahila Utthan Sangh organized a Provincial Level Workshop on Legal Aid and Access to Justice in Butwal, Lumbini Province on 9 April 2022. The Workshop was attended by 30 participants, mostly women human rights defenders and community paralegal officers, and the discussion was focused on their roles and responsibilities and their security, self-respect, and recognition. The workshop stressed that women human rights defenders need to facilitate and play the role of bridge between the community and the government agencies.
The major topics of discussion were Legal Aid, Community Reconciliation, and Challenges Faced by Paralegal Officers. The participants stressed that the Government should prioritize providing legal aid to the needy as it is not possible for the human rights organizations solely to provide such facilities.
Expressing her commitment to the issue, Lauti Tharu, a Member of the Lumbini Provincial Assembly highlighted that people belonging to the Dalit community are even scared to approach police offices hindering their access to justice. Similarly, Puspa Tharuni, Lumbini Provincial Member said that she will initiate the discussion in this regard at Provincial Assembly and advocate for bringing a separate law related to legal aid.
The participants expressed their commitments to work together for access to legal aid and justice for Dalits, marginalized community people, and detainees.
AF provided technical support in the program.
