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06/02/2014, Belgrade SRB ROUND TABLE |
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06/02/2014, Belgrade SRB ROUND TABLE |
| The key imperfections of the Draft Law on Free Legal Aid were being discussed at the round table „What kind of Law on Free Legal Aid do we need“ organized on 5th of February 2014 by the Autonomous Women's Center, in cooperation with the organization Praxis and the coalition of civil society organizations, which consider that the current draft law is not good. Representatives of the organizations and institutions pointed out the serious problems in relation to the key issues of the Draft law: - At the same time insufficiently inclusive and broad definition of beneficiaries, which put citizens in an unequal position in relation to the place of life and leaves enormous discretion in deciding who has the right to exercise a secondary legal aid; - The fact that providing primary legal aid, for which there is the greatest need, will not be financed from the state budget; - The procedure for exercising the right to free legal aid is complicated, which makes it difficult for certain groups of citizens to access the public administration body, that decides on the request, and in some cases means that the legal proceeding is initiated prior to exercise the right to free legal representation; - The selection оf the center for social work, as an administrative body, that decides on the request for exercising free legal aid, which does not have the resources, but does not have enough knowledge in areas outside of social protection, and in some cases might be in direct conflict of interest; |
| - Understanding the issue of funding free legal aid, which threatens the provision of primary legal aid, as a fundamental right of every citizen, regardless of the poverty issue; - Disrespect of the existence of specialized free legal aid providers in certain fields of law and non-recognition of the state's obligation to guarantee the free legal aid to citizens in accordance with international agreements, accepted by the Republic of Serbia, including victims of violence, respectively the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, which was ratified by the Republic of Serbia on 31st of October 2013. Although the representatives of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration and the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy attempted to give answer to presented critics, it seems that there was not enough understanding of the key problems in the draft law. The round table ended with the statement that we are not closer to a better solution, but that civil society organizations should continue to put pressure on decision-makers in order to avoid „cosmetic changes“. The key issues of this Draft should be set up on a better basis, so that it reflects and corresponds to reality, to be rational, functional and sustainable, as well as fair and equitable. In these efforts, all the interested public and international organizations should be mobilized. Attachment: Minutes and conclusions of the Round table |
| The key imperfections of the Draft Law on Free Legal Aid were being discussed at the round table „What kind of Law on Free Legal Aid do we need“ organized on 5th of February 2014 by the Autonomous Women's Center, in cooperation with the organization Praxis and the coalition of civil society organizations, which consider that the current draft law is not good. Representatives of the organizations and institutions pointed out the serious problems in relation to the key issues of the Draft law: - At the same time insufficiently inclusive and broad definition of beneficiaries, which put citizens in an unequal position in relation to the place of life and leaves enormous discretion in deciding who has the right to exercise a secondary legal aid; - The fact that providing primary legal aid, for which there is the greatest need, will not be financed from the state budget; - The procedure for exercising the right to free legal aid is complicated, which makes it difficult for certain groups of citizens to access the public administration body, that decides on the request, and in some cases means that the legal proceeding is initiated prior to exercise the right to free legal representation; - The selection оf the center for social work, as an administrative body, that decides on the request for exercising free legal aid, which does not have the resources, but does not have enough knowledge in areas outside of social protection, and in some cases might be in direct conflict of interest; - Understanding the issue of funding free legal aid, which threatens the provision of primary legal aid, as a fundamental right of every citizen, regardless of the poverty issue; - Disrespect of the existence of specialized free legal aid providers in certain fields of law and non-recognition of the state's obligation to guarantee the free legal aid to citizens in accordance with international agreements, accepted by the Republic of Serbia, including victims of violence, respectively the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, which was ratified by the Republic of Serbia on 31st of October 2013. Although the representatives of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration and the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy attempted to give answer to presented critics, it seems that there was not enough understanding of the key problems in the draft law. The round table ended with the statement that we are not closer to a better solution, but that civil society organizations should continue to put pressure on decision-makers in order to avoid „cosmetic changes“. The key issues of this Draft should be set up on a better basis, so that it reflects and corresponds to reality, to be rational, functional and sustainable, as well as fair and equitable. In these efforts, all the interested public and international organizations should be mobilized. Attachment: Minutes and conclusions of the Round table |
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| The contents of the website are the sole responsibility of Autonomous Women’s Center and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. | ||
| Campaign is supported by: | ||
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| The contents of the website are the sole responsibility of Autonomous Women’s Center and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. | ||
