LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS THREATENED BY NEW LAW
New scholarships ensure access to justice for disadvantaged citizens
Rule of law here is in the early stages—and not well-understood by most citizens. Legal aid organizations play a unique, important, sometimes invisible role in ensuring access to justice for disadvantaged people. Working in isolated, remote communities, these specialists provide free legal assistance to victims of gender-based violence, represent criminal defendants, and litigate or mediate civil disputes for those who cannot afford to pay for a private lawyer. However, in 2008, a new law passed requiring all private lawyers, including those who work for legal aid organizations, to complete a two-year certification program. To ensure the availability of social justice for all, and with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), we launched a scholarship to provide financial support to legal aid lawyers to complete the program. Six initial recipients of the scholarships include four women, who are now studying for their certificates.
— LILLIAN DANG
Legal Training Officer, Dili