Improving the access to justice for people living under the poverty line with a special emphasis on women, children and Roma

The project aims to extend the legal aid provision system towards more citizens with vulnerable background as well as to strengthen the role of the state in cases of domestic violence while executing its responsibilities to ensure equal and barrier-free access to justice and LA for people whose fundamental human rights have been violated. The main area of intervention has been targeting vulnerable groups living under the poverty line with a special emphasis at three categories of beneficiaries, namely: - victims of domestic and gender-based violence; - children at risk; - Roma communities, especially in remote and isolated rural areas. The project activities encompass development of analysis on existing barriers to access to justice, creation of mobile units including lawyers and Roma mediators, capacity-building activities for lawyers inscribed into the National LA register through trainings and establishment of a local cooperation mechanism between the municipality, local units of MoI, MLSP, court, Bar and other key units in 3 pilot counties - Stara Zagora, Veliko Tarnovo and Varna. The synergy of the latter as well as its synchronized work should have the potential for transferability to other counties across the country to support vulnerable groups. The project reflects the priorities of the Memorandum of understanding under the EEA FM 2014-2021 with regards the improvement of the state reaction to protect and support victims of domestic and gender-based violence, introduction of human rights standards and improvement of the conditions of Roma communities across the country. It envisages awareness raising campaigns and actions to increase the sensitivity towards the above topics as well as trainings and preparation of specialists within the judiciary. Finally, the project is in line with the main expected outcomes of the Program agreement, area 21, outcome 4 "Improved capacity of the Bulgarian authorities in the field of domestic and gender-based violence".

Comments