Minister Expresses Appreciation for Australian Assistance in Rolling out Indonesia's First Legal Aid System
Jakarta, 4 March: Launching the accreditation process to receive public funding under the country’s first ever legal aid system, Indonesia’s Minister for Law and Human Rights, Amir Syamsuddin, acknowledged Australian Aid program. “The fact that even neighbouring countries care about legal aid for poor people in Indonesia should motivate us to make this a success,” he told a workshop attended by those responsible for accrediting legal aid organisations throughout Indonesia.
“I want each and every one of you to know your tasks and function - this accreditation and verification process for legal aid organisationsis for the benefit of the Indonesian people. We must provide services to everyone, regardless of status. Everyone is equal before the law.”
Indonesia’s Legal Aid Law, passed at the end of 2011, establishes for the first time a state-sponsored system to provide legal aid to the poor. The Ministry of Law and Human Rights will distribute the funds to legal aid providers which have been accredited through a rigorous process established and overseen by the Ministry, with financial support and technical advice from AusAID.
“This accreditation process is the first step in implementing the Legal Aid Law -it’s an exciting, concrete step toward access to justice for poor people in this country,” said Luke Arnold, First Secretary responsible for Australian aid program support for justice and democratic governance programs.
“As the services will be entirely funded from Indonesia’s own budget, they’re also sustainable. So when Indonesia invited Australia to help get the system up and running, we enthusiastically agreed,” he added.
The Australia Indonesia Partnership for Justice (AIPJ) is working closely with the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights’ National Legal Development Agency (BPHN) and the Indonesian National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) to support the development of a state-funded legal aid system for poor Indonesians. Access to justice is an essential means to help people overcome poverty and protect their fundamental rights.
