Legal Aid for Farmers and Rural People FINAL REPORT
26 April 2017 to 25 December2017
Promoting the Rule of Law Project Grant Number: PRL-G-007-008
Implemented by: Mahawthadha Legal Aid Association U Kyaw Swar Htun 09422729703 004, 45/46 Shwemingalar street, Myakyuethar Hoursing , Pathein
Accomplishments Mahawthadha Legal Aid Association (MLAA) believed that its set goals and objectives were met through-out to project period finally up to this end. With the support of 3 lawyers, MLAA provided legal aid assistances to the farmers and rural people in Ayeyarwady Region mainly focused in Maubin, Pathein and Hinthada District. A vinyl poster campaign for free legal representation was organized in 13 townships in three districts – Pathein, Hinthada and Maubin District – and posted up 54 Vinyl Posters. Although MLAA targeted 15 Legal Representation Cases and 25 Legal Advice Cases for the whole project period, in practical it has achieved a cumulative total of 16 Legal Representation and 25 legal advice cases. Among 16, 3 cases have been completed with court final decision but the remaining 13 cases are still under ongoing trial. MLAA will continue to provide advices and follow up to the 25 legal advice cases are supporting follow up action for 25 Legal Advice cases.
Milestone A
1. Fully Executed Grant Agreement 2. Detailed Monthly Work Plan for all activities, 3. Recruitment Plan, including position descriptions, list of media outlets to post job announcements, and schedule for job announcements, interviews, and hiring; 4. Operations Plan to establish and equip Pathein Office, including criteria for office space selection, timeline for visiting properties, selecting an office, negotiating and signing lease, equipment procurement plan 5. Attendance of key organization staff at Project -sponsored USAID Rules & Regulations Training; 6. Draft Legal Aid Case Selection Criteria 7. Draft Project Launch and Press Conference plan including agenda, invitee list, press release and workshop documents 8. Draft case intake form for legal Advice and Mediation to be used to ensure cases follow selection criteria; 9. Draft travel plans for two lawyers to support legal advice, mediation and representation cases, including target areas, purpose of travel, planned outreach and case intake activities and draft trip report template to be used in subsequent reporting; 10. Letter from Finance Staff stating organizational bank account information, account number, and signatories
Milestone – B
1. Copies of executed office lease 2. Copies of newly hired staff CVs and employment agreements, staff training plan, and updated organizational chart 3. Updated Procurement Policy based on in-kind procurement experience to comply with USAID regulation 4. Final Project Launch and Press Conference agendas, orientation materials, signed participant lists, press release, project launch report with 3-5 photos, and copies/links of any related press articles 5. Draft Public Vinyl Banner Campaign messaging, graphic designs, and installation plan with location sites, process for acquiring required permissions, and schedule, 6. Legal Aid Services Report using Project-provided template for legal service cases, detailed by service type – legal advice and mediation (cumulative total 3) - 7. Legal Aid Cases Report using Project-provided template for legal representation cases (cumulative total 1), 8. Completed trip report using approved template detailing travel by lawyers to target areas in support of legal advice, mediation, and representation cases 9. Updated Detailed Monthly Work Plan for all activities
Milestone – C
1. Final hard copy and electronic versions of Public Vinyl Banner Campaign and installation lists. 54 Vinyl Poster were posted up in Pathein, Hinthada and Maubin District. 2. Legal Aid Services Report using Project-provided template for legal service cases, detailed by service type – legal advice and mediation (cumulative total 11) 3. Updated mid-term case reports for at least (11) advice and mediation cases, (total 11 reports). 4. Legal Aid Cases Report using Project-provided template for legal representation cases (cumulative total 6). 5. Completed trip report using approved template detailing travel by lawyers to target areas in support of legal advice, mediation, and representation cases. 6. Updated Financial or Accounting Policy to comply with USAID regulations. 7. Updated Travel Policies to comply with USAID regulations. 8. Updated Detailed Monthly Work Plan for all activities, including dates and locations when possible, and invitees lists as available.
Milestone – D
1. Legal Aid Services Report using Project-provided template for legal service cases, detailed by service type – legal advice and mediation (cumulative total 20) – 2. Legal Aid Cases Report using Project-provided template for legal representation cases (cumulative total 11), 3. Completed trip report using approved template detailing travel by lawyers to target areas in support of legal advice, mediation, and representation cases 4. Updated Human Resources Policy or Employment Manual with Code of Conduct to comply with USAID regulations accepted and approved by the Project; 5. Updated Detailed Monthly Work Plan for all activities, including dates and locations when possible, Milestone – E
1. Legal Aid Services Report using Project-provided template for legal service cases, detailed by service type – legal advice and mediation (cumulative total 25) – 2. Final case report for Legal advice and meditation cases, (cumulative totals-25) 3. Legal Aid Cases Report using Project-provided template for legal representation cases (cumulative total 16), 4. Completed trip report using approved template detailing travel by lawyers to target areas in support of legal advice, mediation, and representation cases 5. Legal Aid Services Analysis Report detailing trends, challenges, opportunities and lessons learned in cases served. Recommendations for legal aid management may also be included. 6. Final Inventory Report.
Findings
1. Most of the Lawyers pointed out that copying court files are almost always difficult and experienced with many steps to get permission and un-necessary delay time. 2. Should minimize frequent postponement and re-appointment of trial which are quite rooted in most of the Courts in the region. 3. The court rooms in Ayeyarwady division are normally too narrowing and not enough space for the observers. And also, right to hear trial is not well known and acquainted to the public. 4. A few legal aid service association are working and functioning in Ayeyarwady Division where as poor legal knowledge and provision of free legal assistance were demanding for such associations. 5. The main Weakness of Judicial System is the cause of Corruption. Sustainability
• MLAA will implement Legal Advice and representation in Ayeyarwady Division from January 2018 to April 2018 with their own fund. • MLAA will organize Legal Watch Group to continue implementation rules of law for (6) Township in Pathein district, Ayeyarwady division.
Activity Report
Insert information into the below charts based on the activities completed during the reporting period, from the completion of Milestone B. If possible, please include quotations from conference/training participants and photographs from the activities.
Meetings / Workshops/ Trainings/ Forum/ Campaigns/ Events
Number of participants Topic Discussed/ Type of Date(s) Title of events Location/Venue Follow-up/ action point Topic taught Participants Men Women
Legal Aid Services
Time Duration Types of services (Court representation, Number of Township legal assistances, safe house) From To Cases Men Women 26-10-2017 25-12-2017 Court representation 5 4 3 Maubin, Pathein, Hinthada
26-10-2017 25-12-2017 Legal assistance (Counselling) 5 40 2 Pathein , Maubin
IEC materials Distributed to Newsletter, Date Topics covered Language used pamphlets, etc ) Number distributed CSO Govt organization Individuals -
Survey/ data collection Sample size (# study of Types of information Type of study participants Start Date End Date Study Objectives participants) Study location collected (FSW, lawyers Men Women
Evaluation Report 1. Overall goal of each activity The purpose of MLAA’s proposed eight-month project is to increase legal literacy and access to justice in Ayeyarwaddy Division. MLAA’s legal aid group will support at least 25 legal advice and mediation cases. In addition, MLAA will provide legal representation in court for 15 cases during the project period, including land cases, criminal cases and support for appeals. MLAA will improve legal literacy by installing vinyl banners in 13 townships in 3 project areas, aimed at providing key legal information. Prior to the end of the project, MLAA will conduct a press conference to share their legal aid experiences and develop rule of law coordination partnerships for the future. 2. Description of activities and how related to the goal MLAA has accomplished 16 court representation cases and 25 legal advice cases during the project period. MLAA tried to improve legal literacy by installing 54 vinyl banner in 13 townships in 3 project areas. We are collaborating with government of Ayarwaddy Division for land cases, criminal cases and support for appeal. So, farmers and rural people in this region access to free legal aid with the support of MLAA. 3. Summarize the findings of the activity evaluations • Should improve the process copying court files and court documents easier. • Should minimize frequent postponement and re-appointment of trial. • Should continue to improve legal knowledge of community including right to hear trial. • Should promote more legal aid service association establish in Ayeyarwady Division. • Should fight for Corruption especially in the Court Environment.
4. Before the project period, MLAA thought to implement at least 15 court representation cases and 25 legal advice cases for farmers and rural people in 3 districts in Ayeyawady Region. After the project period, MLAA accomplished at least 16 court representation and 25 legal advice cases. In this case, 13 representation cases are ongoing service and 3 representation cases are final decision from the court. 25 Legal advice cases are follow up action.