Guaranteeing the proper functioning of the system of providing primary legal aid, through monitoring the establishment and activity of the responsible mechanisms

Financially supported by Foundation “Open Society for Albania” (OSFA)

Period of project implementation: November 2019 – July 2020

The overall objective of this project is to increase accountability, responsibility and transparency of responsible institutions and actors involved in the mechanism of providing primary legal aid guaranteed by the state, as well as the promotion and sensitization of the community on guaranteeing the right of access to justice that reflects law no. 111/2017 “On legal aid guaranteed by the state” and its bylaws. The specific objectives are: a) Raising awareness of stakeholders regarding the new legal standards and mechanisms of primary legal aid guaranteed by the state, in accordance with law no. 111/2017 and bylaws issued in its implementation. b) Ensuring and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of providing professional legal assistance in a professional and quality manner by the responsible institutions/actors. This initiative will be implemented in 8 cities in the country, namely: Elbasan, Durrës, Shkodra, Vlora, Tirana, Fier, Korça and Dibër.

Project implementation results: AHC has engaged 2 experts for the drafting of 1 proactive methodology, in order to monitor the services provided within the primary legal aid. The team of AHC’ observers, consisting of 2 lawyers, has carried out 4 monitoring missions in the cities of Tirana, Durres, Elbasan and Shkodra. A meeting was held with the Directorate of Free Legal Aid (near the Ministry of Justice), 11 non-profit organizations, 2 centers providing primary legal aid services (set up by the QNLQ, with the support of UNDP), 2 Law Clinics’ of OSFA and the Free Legal Aid Office at the Ministry of Justice. These meetings aim to monitor the procedures for their establishment and operation. Findings and conclusions of the monitoring missions are periodically reflected on the dedicated FB page “For an effective justice system”.

In the following months, 12 monitoring missions will be carried out in other designated cities. 3 interim reports will be published, in which the data and findings found during the monitoring process so far and the relevant recommendations for the competent institutions will be reflected.