Legal Aid Service Provider's Network

In its resolution 2007/24 on international cooperation for the improvement of access to legal aid in criminal justice systems, particularly in Africa, the United Nations Economic and Social Council recognized the importance of providing legal aid to suspects and prisoners and its effect on reducing the length of pre-trial detention, prison overcrowding and congestion in the court. The Council also noted that many Member States lacked the necessary resources and capacity to provide legal assistance. It therefore called upon the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to “study ways and means of strengthening access to legal aid in the criminal justice system” and “assist African States, upon request, in their efforts to apply the Lilongwe Declaration on Accessing Legal Aid in the Criminal Justice System in Africa”. The present Handbook on Improving Access to Legal Aid in Africais derived from that mandate. The intention is to provide an overview of the progress that has been made towards improving access to legal aid services in criminal justice systems in Africa in order to assist policymakers, practitioners and all stakeholders (considered to include development partners, Governments, bar associations, NGOs and grassroots action groups) actively involved in criminal justice reform in three ways: by providing the general information needed for developing national legal aid service delivery strategies, by offering alternatives to conventional models of legal aid delivery and by outlining promising practices on the continent, some particularly suitable for post-conflict societies. The Handbook draws together innovations and lessons learned across African countries in the intricate area of legal aid service delivery in the criminal justice system. It highlights many instances of promising grassroots initiatives in a wide variety of countries. It is hoped that these practices will encourage and stimulate further innovative efforts to provide more inclusive access to justice for all in the criminal justice system, particularly for the poor and marginalized. The breadth and depth of information in the Handbookallow for better adaptation to specific country contexts, as well as for better coordination between the various participants.