10:7bn/- justice access drive: EU, Belgian agency, LSF tie

07Mar 2024
The Guardian Reporter
DAR ES SALAAM
News
The Guardian
10:7bn/- justice access drive: EU, Belgian agency, LSF tie

THE Legal Services Facility (LSF) and Enabel, the Belgian development agency, yesterday signed a 10.7 bn/- grant agreement for Improved Access to Justice for Women through Legal Aid (IMPAWLA) project.

Legal Services Facility (LSF) Executive Director, Lulu Ng’wanakilala (2nd-R) and Enabel Tanzania Resident Representative Koenraad Goekint exchange documents in Dares Salaam yesterday on the implementation of a 10.7bn/- ‘Improved Access to Justice for Women through Legal Aid’ project to be funded by the European Union. Witnessing the event are the Head of the EU Delegation to Tanzania and the East African Community, Christine Grau (R), and the Belgian Ambassador to Tanzania, Peter Huyghebaert. Photo: Guardian Correspondent

The collaborative project funded by the European Union (EU) comes under its flagship initiative, “Gender Transformative Action: Breaking the Glass Ceiling.”

The project is intended to reduce inequalities in access to justice for women and girls by enhancing their access to quality legal aid services. It also targets strengthening the organizational capacity for LSF to enhance its mission.

Under the pact, LSF and Enabel will collaborate to build a comprehensive legal aid programme for women and marginalized groups. This programme will focus on improving the provision of quality legal aid for women, fostering legal empowerment, and promoting a conducive environment for access to justice.

It will leverage the LSF network of paralegals and legal aid providers, enhancing their capacity to deliver crucial services, where the primary focus of this initiative is directed at combating gender based violence.

Lulu Ng'wanakilala, the LSF executive director, said at the signing ceremony that LSF will ensure that high-quality legal aid services are accessible through formal and informal justice systems.

The project seeks to empower the community to understand, shape and utilise the law, as well as addressing gender-based violence and empower women socially, economically and in leadership roles, she stated.

“We are delighted to sign this contract with Enabel, as it represents a significant step towards improving access to justice, particularly for women, girls and marginalised communities across the country," the activist declared.

Koenraad Goekint, the Enabel resident representative, described the project as ground-breaking collaboration to enhance access to justice, particularly for women, girls and marginalized communities.

“This partnership underscores our commitment to promote sustainable development and foster a society where everyone can access their rights and participate fully in the legal system,” she stated.

“By leveraging our collective expertise and resources, we aim to make meaningful strides towards building a more equitable and just society for all Tanzanians," the representative intoned.

EU head of delegation Christine Grau asserted that through this initiative, the EU seeks to support access to justice for women and girls through legal aid, in particular for victims of gender based violence.

“It indeed complements other efforts within the overall programme aimed also at promoting women's economic empowerment and increasing their leadership and representation in decision-making positions,” she stated.

Both representatives also expressed support and commitment to the project, emphasizing its potential for enhancing the protection of women’s rights against all forms of discrimination, making Tanzanian society more equitable and just. “The initiative strives to ensure that justice is within reach for all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status. The period for the implementation of the signed agreement is 26 months,” she added.

 

 

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