At a roundtable held on February 27, 2017 in Marriot Courtyeard Hotel Legal Aid Service (LAS) and 19 other legal aid organisations discussed the possibility of creation of unified online map and online platform, which shall enable the justice system users to search, identify and contact free legal aid organizations according to their needs. The Platform shall enable Free Legal Aid organizations to register electronically and manage their own account. Together with free legal aid centers, the online map shall display other stakeholders of justice system, such as courts, prosecutors’ offices, police stations, notaries and mediators.
The outline of the project of platform and mapping was presented by the Association of Court Clerks, who has previously developed a popular website for court users http://probono.court.ge/ . Once the participants come to final agreement, the Association shall work on the development of the platform and the map with the assistance of UNDP and assume its proper functioning for the upcoming years.
The roundtable also served as a continuation of discussion between free legal aid service providers initiated at a December 6, 2016 roundtable the purpose of which is the creation of effective legal aid referral system in Georgia.
The event was held in the framework of the EU-UN joint program Enhancing Access to Justice and Development of a Child-friendly Justice System in Georgia” carried out with support of the European Union. The project is carried out on the basis of the agreement between Georgia and EU. Specific objectives of this project are to support access to justice through promoting more independent and effective legal profession, legal aid system and greater application of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms (ADRs), promote and support the establishment of an effective system of justice for children by dedicated regulatory framework and implementation mechanisms.