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Lawyers for equality. Local forms of cooperation.

Combating discrimination Completed
mazowieckie
Warszawa
2014-08-05 - 2016-04-30
345 913,28 PLN
310 940,12 PLN
judiciary system, law
Project description
Ministry of Justice data indicate an increase in the number of anti-discrimination claim cases. While non-governmental organisations are interested in supporting discrimination victims, a monitoring study held by the Society in 2012 proved that their contribution to such proceedings is incidental for reasons of poor knowledge of legal mechanisms, and of insufficient lawyer knowledge of the needs of groups discriminated against.
The main project purpose was to improve discrimination victims’ access to the judiciary by pooling the experience and resources of the legal community and non-governmental organisations within the framework of local co-operation platforms.
Access to the judiciary was improved for discrimination victims in 8 cities. Seventy lawyers were informed of court proceeding-related options of engaging non-governmental organisations; 60 organisation representatives were told that local corporations have plenipotentiaries ready to offer assistance. Eight meetings of local legal corporations were organised, knowledge shared and needs identified. Three anti-discrimination training courses were delivered for court proceeding plenipotentiaries; one similar course was held for non-governmental organisations. A “Pro Bono for Equality” manual was published (400 copies) and presented during the conference. Activity-related data was published in 21 issues of a newsletter delivered to 248 recipients.
Project beneficiaries included 44 lawyers and 24 activists – training course attendants. The project concept was presented to 70 plenipotentiaries and 60 representatives of non-governmental organisations (meeting attendants), 248 newsletter recipients, 40 conference participants, and 400 manual recipients.
The Polish partner (Human Rights Commission of the Supreme Bar Council) was responsible for recruiting legal counsellors. The foreign partner (Norwegian Bar Association) shared experience in the area of legal co-operation with non-governmental organisations in Norway.
We use the grant for capacity building