A meeting of the working group of the network of legal aid providers was conducted today, August 4, as part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project "Improving the Rule of Law and Access to Justice for All".
The Legal Aid Service Deputy Director, Nino Meladze, discussed the history of the network formation, its challenges, and future goals. Levan Asatiani, Project Manager for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Mariam Gabedava, who represents the USAID Rule of Law Program, and Mikheil Khurtsidze, Deputy Director for the Legal Aid Office, welcomed the attendees to the meeting.
Salome Duduchava, the Legal Aid Service Director's assistant, presented the amended network statute draft. Representatives of budgetary and non-governmental organizations that provide free legal aid, the majority of whom are the network's founders, were present at the session.
The network of legal aid providers aims to promote the formation of an accessible and effective structure of legal aid, foster the development of a viable and efficient legal aid redirection (referral) system as well as to enhance cooperation and coordination amongst legal aid providers.
The participants discussed the issues required for the network to operate effectively. It was resolved that many initiatives will be carried out in the near future to contribute to the network's introduction, and that the guidelines for joining and rerouting the network will be improved. In the end, more people will have access to free legal aid, and the network member organizations will help the beneficiaries in a timely and efficient manner based on their statutory mandates.
The event was organized with the support of the United Nations Development Program UNDP and Germany, as part of the project "Improving the Rule of Law and Access to Justice for All".
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