Legal Assistance Scheme, Erbil
We at Women Empowerment Organization are the implicating partner of a project named Legal Assistance Scheme in Erbil. The project is funded by the UNDP with funds from the EU.The project’s duration is a year with implementation of the activities for 10 months. This is a pilot project that we hope will get extended for years.
The project has three main activities:
• Free legal helpdesk at the investigation court in Erbil. This helpdesk will provide free legal counseling and advice to vulnerable people and in specific cases also provide legal representation. Referral to good lawyers and in case the client has other issues than the legal issue such as psychological or social we will refer them to other appropriate organizations/ NGO’s.
• Legal outreach program focusing on teaching people about their rights and about what course of action they should take if their rights are being violated, where they can seek help.
• Production of two manuals, one on civil law and one on criminal law – a practical manual for lawyers on how to deal with cases concerning the vulnerable groups this project focuses on: Women, children, IDP’s, refugees, disabled people, elderly people, poor people, juveniles, victims of torture.
Apart from these stated activities WEO is also cooperating with other local and international NGOs and governmental institutions to establish a referral network by which we refer our clients to ensure them the best social, economical and psychological services too.
