good governance practices for the protection of human rights

of law conducted by representatives of the criminal justice system and the NGOs
sponsoring the programme. The paralegals must have completed secondary education
and be aged 20 to 40. Nearly half of them are women. The four NGOs
sponsoring the programme coordinate their work. There is also an advisory
council, which receives regular progress reports and advises the paralegals.
Implementation
In its efforts to strengthen the capacity of the justice system and empower
rights-holders, PAS engages in a number of activities. First, paralegals assist in
the processing of suspects in police stations. For young offenders they suggest
alternatives to prosecutors in cases of first or minor offences or if the person
admits fault. In addition to speeding up the processing of cases, the presence of
PAS paralegals in the police stations while juvenile suspects are interviewed is
intended to deter torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of suspects
in police cells.
PAS paralegals also screen prisoners to ensure that those held unlawfully or inappropriately
are brought to the attention of the authorities. The paralegals compile
case lists and refer the individual cases to the courts or the police. They follow
up each individual case until the person is released, convicted or sentenced.
Through this work, PAS improves the links among the various components of the
criminal justice system, and facilitates communication and coordination among
the prisons, the courts and the police.
Second, PAS works to improve the legal literacy of prisoners through its daily
paralegal aid clinics for remand prisoners. The clinics emphasize self-help so that
prisoners learn how to apply for bail, make a plea in mitigation, conduct their
own defence and cross-examine witnesses.
Third, PAS offers legal advice and assistance to remand prisoners who have
overstayed or are being held unlawfully or inappropriately. Priority is given to
vulnerable groups, such as women, mothers with babies, juveniles, foreign nationals,
the mentally and terminally ill, and the elderly. Paralegals assist prisoners
to fill in standardized bail forms agreed with the judiciary, which paralegals then
lodge with the appropriate court. Convicted prisoners are assisted in their appeals
against sentences and in ensuring that sentences passed by the lower court
are confirmed by the High Court.
Paralegals have also assisted the work of the criminal justice system in other
ways. They have observed 91 homicide cases and published a report to inform
debate on the quality of justice delivered. They also called attention to the plight
of homicide suspects, some of whom have been waiting for trial for 10 years.
By 2005, the number of paralegals had increased from the initial 12 to 37. PAS
had developed a programme in 13 prisons, holding 84 per cent of the total prison
population, which numbers 8,500 persons.
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