The Impact of Paralegals in Uganda
In a justice system often plagued by overcrowding, delays, and accessibility barriers, Paralegal Advisory Services in Uganda has emerged as a transformative force, serving as the “human face” of justice. Our paralegals operate at the critical junction between communities and the formal justice system, providing essential services that encompass protection, prevention, correction, empowerment, and participation.
Who We Serve
Paralegal Advisory Services targets men, women, youth, and children who are poor and vulnerable and need access to justice. These individuals often lack the knowledge, resources, and confidence to navigate the complex criminal justice system. Our organization aims to empower these groups through legal means, ensuring they can effectively access and benefit from justice services.
Our Approach
Our paralegals function as vital links between formal and informal justice systems. By operating in both spaces, we create pathways to justice that might otherwise remain closed to the most vulnerable members of society.
Community Prevention
A cornerstone of our strategy is targeting communities to play a preventive role. By addressing and resolving issues at the community level, we significantly reduce the number of cases entering the formal justice system. This not only alleviates pressure on an already strained system but also provides quicker, more accessible justice for community members.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Our paralegals are skilled in alternative dispute resolution techniques, particularly useful in addressing issues within family and community settings. These approaches offer constructive, restorative solutions that formal legal proceedings often cannot provide.
Legal Empowerment
We use legal empowerment as a sustainable tool to help women and youth access justice. By educating individuals about their rights and the legal processes available to them, our paralegals equip them to navigate the justice system more effectively.
For instance, in cases of domestic violence, paralegals empower women to protect themselves using legal tools and encourage reporting cases to the local council system.
Our Reach and Impact
Paralegal Advisory Services currently operates in 13 locations across 32 districts in Uganda. This broad coverage has been instrumental in creating significant positive change within the justice system:
- Reduced Prison Population: Paralegals played a key role in reducing the remand prison population from 63% to 52% by 2015, facilitating over 10,000 releases through bail applications and empowering defendants to speak for themselves.
- Support Throughout the Justice Chain: Our paralegals work with police, prisons, and court users, addressing barriers of distance, time, and cost in accessing justice.
- Children’s Rights: We ensure children are not detained with adults and do not remain in detention beyond the mandatory remand period, working closely with remand homes to protect these vulnerable young people.
- Gender-Based Violence: Our paralegals address gender-based violence cases and refer victims to partner organizations for legal representation when necessary.
Stakeholder Coordination
Our effectiveness stems partly from our robust coordination with various institutions:
- We operate under the Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS), lobbying for compliance with performance standards and constitutional rights.
- We engage with individual ministries, including the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development.
- We partner with organizations outside the formal criminal justice system to provide comprehensive support.
Challenges We Address
Despite having laws in place, implementation remains a significant challenge. Our paralegals work to address systemic problems such as:
- Corruption within the justice system
- Delays in processing cases
- Gaps between formal legal protections and practical realities
The Value of Paralegals
Our paralegals, many of whom provide legal aid on a voluntary basis, demonstrate remarkable commitment to finding solutions for those in need. They receive certification through dedicated training programs and continually develop their skills to serve communities better.
The paralegal model used by Paralegal Advisory Services is unique and effective in reducing justice problems. By working at the interface between formal and informal justice systems, our paralegals ensure that justice is not just a concept but a lived reality for all Ugandans, regardless of their social or economic status.
Access to justice is not a one-time event but a continuous cycle that requires ongoing empowerment and follow-up. Through our paralegals’ tireless efforts, we are creating a more accessible, equitable, and effective justice system for all.