Introduction

The Equal Access to Justice Project is a Nationally Executed Project (NEX) funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Its executing agency is the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and National Integration (MOCA). The objective of the Project is to increase access to justice by disadvantaged groups in society namely the poor, the disabled, internally displaced persons (IDPs), women and children, through the application of a Human Rights Based Approach. The duration of the project is three years.

The Project was nationally launched in the latter part of September 2004.

Project Partners

The Project partners can be categorized into three groups namely government partners, civil society partners and non-state actors and others.

Government Partners (Ministries, Authorities, Departments etc.)

• Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and National Integration
• Ministry of Justice and Judicial Reform
• Sri Lanka Police
• Prisons Department
• Legal Aid Commission
• Human Rights Commission
• Divisional Secretariats

Civil Society Partners (NGOs, CBOs, and INGOs)

• Sarvodaya Legal Services Movement
• Centre for the Study of Human Rights
• Bar Association of Sri Lanka

Non State Actors and Others

• Judicial Service Commission
• Sri Lanka Law College
• Faculty of Law, University of Colombo
• Department of Legal Studies, Open University of Sri Lanka

Equal Access to Justice Project

The main objective of the Equal Access to Justice Project (A2J) is to increase access to justice by disadvantaged groups, through the application of a human rights based approach. The poor, the displaced (IDPs), the disabled, women and children are identified as disadvantaged groups. However this is not an exhaustive list and other disadvantaged groups such as elders, migrant workers have also been targeted by the Project. It is a three year project in its second year of implementation. The project was nationally launched in the latter part of September 2004 and national level activities commenced from October 2004. Regional activities under the project got off the ground from January 2005.

The expected outcomes of the project are :

• Increase in number and diversity of persons receiving effective legal services;
• Increase in number and diversity of persons receiving information on their rights and duties;
• Decrease barriers to accessing the legal system;
• Increase in number and diversity of persons receiving community level Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) services;
• Human Rights better promoted and effectively protected.

Area Coverage

Thirteen geographic areas (Pradeshiya Sabha areas) were selected for project implementation in the first year, namely, katuwana, Kolonna, Aranayake, Hingurakgoda, Padaviya, Ambagamuwa, Chavakachcheri, Uhana, Kalmunai, Soranatota, Siyambalanduwa and Kaduwela. Seven additional areas (Divisional Secretariat Divisions) were selected in the second year, which are neluwa, Walasmulla, kanthale, Rasnayakapura, Manmunai North, Mannar Town and Hatton, making a total of twenty areas targeted by the Project up-to-date.

Publications under the Project

The project was able to compile and publish several leaflets and booklets on various topics including Meditation, Child Rights, Court Structure of Sri Lanka, Human Rights, Domestic Violence etc. and widely distribute them. There is a high demand for these publications from Govt. institutions as well as CBOs and the general public.

Regional Activities

The following model is followed in implementing the project at the regional level.

THE MODEL

Identify stakeholders at the regional level

Establish regional committees

Identify disadvantaged groups

Identify problems specific to these groups

Identify target interventions

Action Plan (Activities)

The Project has passed its halfway mark and is approaching the final year of its implementation. Within the overall frame work of the Project it has succeeded in achieving its objectives in a satisfactory manner despite the obstacles faced. Twenty areas have been targeted so far and it is expected to target 10 more in the following year. With the lessons learnt the project has been able to adapt itself to suit the access to justice needs and contribute in a meaningful way to legally empower disadvantaged groups of the community.