Dharan
2 April, 2017
Hon’ble Arjun Kumar Koirala, District Judge at the District Court, Sunsari vowed to ensure legal aid service at their doorstop and requested local stakeholders to enhance their role and responsibilities in order to promote access to justice for all. He was speaking at the closing session of a three days training on “Access to Justice through strategic Litigation and Legal Aid service“.
The training was jointly organized by JuRI-Nepal in collaboration with Nepal Bar Association, Sunsari chapter. It was focused on to develop a common action plan for the promotion of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and support to enhance women and girl’s access to justice.
Bharat Mani Rijal, District Government Attorney, Geeta Neupane, Acting Chief of the Women and Child Development Office and Dhakendra Khatiwada, DSP of Sunsari District also spoke about the issues and reiterated their commitment. JuRI-Nepal also offered opportunities for them to interact about the pressing issues that directly affect local communities.
The sessions included assessment of violence against women, constitutional guarantees of access to justice (Rights vs. Realities), conceptual aspects of pro-bono legal service, concept of community-based legal information and assistance clinics among others. This training was facilitated by JuRI lawyers Raju Prasad Chapagai, Prabina Bajracharya, Bishnu Prasad Pokhrel and Sashi Basnet.
At the end of the session, an action plan had been developed by the lawyers based in Sunsari, Siraha and Kapilvastu that aims at promoting women and girl’s access to justice. 18 lawyers including A2J project staffers attended the event. The event was organized under Governance Facility (GF) support in consortium with Sancharika Samuha Nepal and Institute of Human Rights and Communication Nepal (IHRICON).