100 likes | 106 Views
The Legal Empowerment Asia Partnership Advisory Committee Meeting in Bangkok discussed NGO involvement in promoting legal rights and social justice in Asia. The meeting highlighted achievements, challenges, and the need for improved coordination and support for NGOs in the region.
E N D
LEGAL EMPOWERMENT ASIA PARTNERSHIP Advisory Committee Meeting, 29-30 January, 2010. Bangkok, Thailand Urantsooj Gombosuren, Centre for Human Rights and Development, Mongolia
NGO involvement in LEP • NGO was adopted in 1997. 8000 NGOs registered. However not all of them are active. • Many of them work on legal issues trying to bring equal opportunities for poor communities with focus on human trafficking, domestic violence, environmental issues, using strategic human rights litigation of poor rural herders, or urban communities. Legal and policy advocacy to build more access for poor communities in social security programs, housing, land, investment plan for infra structure development etc.
Conclusion: Achievements and challenges • Building legal rights of people - reforming the substance of laws: special provisions allowing people (poor) certain roles and power /Minerals law 2006, Law on management of territorial and administrative units, 2006/ Challenge: inform and train!!! - *reforming the process of law making – new progressive developments in terms of people’s participation: parliament public hearing and citizen’s “tenkhim” in the presidential office where people may participate in discussions on laws and amendments. Challenge: involvement of poor people???
Rights awareness -barriers, -accessible laws and legal procedures /opinion of people, how many, representation, legitimacy/, -legal literacy for poor people. Challenge: limited resources, lack of advocacy NGOs in rural areas. Lack of enabling environment for NGOs: registration, funds/core funding, access to information etc.
Enabling environment for use of legal rights -legal aid -integration and affirmative action -institutional and individual capacity building -compensation
Enforcement of legal rights procedural rights – pathways to enforce their rights/rights to participation-access to information-participation in decision making -access to justice in case of violation of the above 2 rights. This In this regard we are only in beginning.
Main challenge for NGOs • Lack of official recognition of NGO roles in democratic development, official policy to support NGO activities, equal opportunities for NGOs in provinces, rural areas, throughout the country, lack of core fundings, lack of effective coordination and cooperation between NGOs as well.