Legal Aid in Cambodia: Practices, Perceptions and Needs - PRAJ

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24Legal Aid in Cambodia: Practices, Perceptions and NeedsA Study based on a National SurveyFigure 9: Benefits of legal aid servicesGet legal knowledge76%Get their case solved for free56%Reduce legal costs38%Reduce fear24%Reduce abuses of human rightsReduce illegal actions10%13%Reduce Domestic Violence2%Figure 10: How people obtain legal aid servicesThrough chief of village/commune64%Through otherorganizations55%Through monks / elders /teacher in village17%Through TV, Radio16%Through leaflets etc7%It follows that when asked for suggestions as to how legal aid services should be promoted sothat potential clients are adequately targeted, respondents identified connecting with localauthorities as the most effective method. They also put a premium on education outreach as apotential promotional tool. Figure 11 shows details.
Legal Aid in Cambodia: Practices, Perceptions and Needs 25A Study based on a National SurveyFigure 11: How legal aid services should be promotedPromote them to all local authorities68%Encourage people to understand about democracy64%Educate people to understand about human rights55%Publicize their address20%Increase promotional activities on TV and Radio15%Provide information immediately to people11%3.4.1 Ability of Legal Aid Providers to Provide ServicesThe Survey asked about the problems legal aid service clients face when obtaining legal aidservices. Respondents cited financial problems as the primary concern, saying that legal aidproviders lack the funds to provide adequate services, and that potential clients lack the fundsto travel to and from legal aid offices or the courts.Respondents also claimed that legal aid clients have difficulties contacting legal aid staff,suggesting the need for legal aid providers to improve their client service skills and theirtelephone services and other access facilities. Respondents in focus group discussions and ininterviews with legal aid providers also identified legal aid clients’ lack of legal knowledge asan obstacle to effective services, with clients apparently seeking advice or assistance too lateor without the requisite forensic evidence. Figure 12 gives details.Figure 12: Problems clients face when obtaining legal aid servicesLack of budget for legal aid providers57%Lack of transportationLack of law knowledge40%45%Difficulty to contact LA staff29%Threats from local authorities / other partiesStaff are not friendly17%16%IlliteracySlowness of proceduresNoneThey don't trust judges9%7%5%3%To complement these data, the survey also looked into the problems legal aid providers facewhen providing legal aid services. Among the issues identified were clients’ lack ofknowledge of the law, and lack of financial resources, especially the money to travel to andfrom legal aid offices and the courts. Providers’ own lack of resources was also identified asan impediment to the provision of services. So too were systemic shortcomings in the formaljustice system.
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Legal Aid in Cambodia: Practices, Perceptions and Needs - PRAJ

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