Legal Assistance Office - Haiti Observer Blog

The Bar Association of Port-au-Prince has inaugurated the Phase II of Legal Assistance Office (BAL or Bureaux d'Assistance Légale). This is an addition to the existing capacity of four offices which will double the present lawyer numbers from thirty to sixty. This extension project of US$ 807,870 was funded by the Section of Community Violence Reduction (CVR) of United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (Minustah). This is an effort from the United Nation to strengthen the rule of law through democratic governance, providing security to the population and supporting a functioning public administration.

When Phase I of BAL was launched in last January 31, 2013, it had some objectives: provide free legal assistance to the citizens who are in dire need especially those who are in captivity and to reduce unjustified prolonged pre-trial detentions. BAL has successfully assisted many poorest litigants who did never had any ability to pay a lawyer. BAL, with its 30 lawyers in the first four offices has fought 6463 individual cases and regained freedom for 2851 people of whom 425 were women and 97 minors. Including the copy of decisions, the Ministry of Justice has exempted all fiscal fees to the beneficiaries of the legal services.

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On Thursday, May 8th, 2014, the Bar Association of Port-au-Prince has inaugurated the Phase II of Legal Assistance Office (BAL or Bureaux d'Assistance Légale). This is an addition to the existing capacity of four offices which will double the present lawyer numbers from thirty to sixty. This extension project of US$ 807,870 was funded by the Section of Community Violence Reduction (CVR) of United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (Minustah). This is an effort from the United Nation to strengthen the rule of law through democratic governance, providing security to the population and supporting a functioning public administration.

When Phase I of BAL was launched in last January 31, 2013, it had some objectives: provide free legal assistance to the citizens who are in dire need especially those who are in captivity and to reduce unjustified prolonged pre-trial detentions. BAL has successfully assisted many poorest litigants who did never had any ability to pay a lawyer. BAL, with its 30 lawyers in the first four offices has fought 6463 individual cases and regained freedom for 2851 people of whom 425 were women and 97 minors. Including the copy of decisions, the Ministry of Justice has exempted all fiscal fees to the beneficiaries of the legal services.

Read more →