Access to Justice and Legal Aid

1
Access to Justice and Legal Aid

• Presented by Sok Sam Oeun, esq.
• Executive Director of CDP
• Coordinator of CHRAC
• Law Lecturer for Law Clinic of PUC

2
What happens if the people perceive unjustice or
unfair?

• The people will kill the suspect by themselves
  (Mob Killing).
• The people will be easily cheated by politician
  and incite them to raise arms (ex Coup by CFF).

3
What happens if the people perceive unjustice or
unfair?

• The investors do not dare to invest their money
  in the country.
• The people and government will confront each
  other like Kbal Spean case.

4
What happens if the people perceive unjustice or
unfair?

• The people will lose their lands and the landless
  people will be increased.
• The poverty will be increased.

5
How do we solve these problems?

• The people shall have access to justice!

6
How do the people access to justice?We need

• A fair, competent and independent court.
• Fair law and procedures by assuring the rights of
  the accused, the victims and both parties.

7
How do the people access to justice?We need

• The court must be easy to access. (Ex Mobile
  Court in Philippines)
• Access to the court must be not expensive.

8
How do the people access to justice?We need

• Without professional, clean and capable
  law-enforcement agencies, the rights of the
  victims of crimes will be ignored, crimes will be
  increased and the people feel unsafe.

9
How do the people access to justice?We need

• The criminal accuseds rights also need to be
  protected.
• In court, both civil parties need to be equal
  before the law.

10
How the poor people access to legal counsel?

• Criminal Accused and poor civil parties must
  access to legal services or legal counsel free of
  charge.
• So, the Legal Aid Organization or independent Bar
  shall play major roles to provide qualified
  services to them.

11
Legal Aid in Cambodia

• There are only two large legal aid NGOs in
  Cambodia Cambodian Defenders Project (CDP) and
  Legal Aid of Cambodia (LAC).
• All legal aid NGOs are only funded by the foreign
  donors.
• The Bar also provide legal services to the poor
  but lack of funding.
• The Government provide only very small amount to
  the bar for legal aid.
• Very few donors provide fund for legal aid.
  Because it is not popular funding. But it is a
  foundation for legal and judicial reform.

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Thank you for attention