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

34 Legal Aid in Cambodia: Practices, Perceptions and NeedsA Study based on a National SurveyTo remedy this state of the affairs the following initiatives are recommended:5.4.1 Community and Peer NetworksCommunity and peer networks could be used to promote awareness of law and legal aid.Participants in the survey’s ‘open house’ workshops envisioned the creation of legal aidnetworks through local networks identified and assisted by NGOs and legal aid lawyers. Thenetworks would be made up of volunteers who would circulate information and take action asneeded. The networks could be based on individuals in districts and communes, villages,workplaces and courts.5.4.2 Concerted CommunicationsA coordinated effort could be made to promote awareness of legal aid through acommunications strategy that uses a variety of media and communication channels. Thefocus would be on citizens’ rights, the law and legal aid, and on addressing legal aid issueswith the help of commune authorities and the police.For the communication strategy to be effective, it would operate at two levels, locally and in aconcerted, planned manner at the provincial and national level. At the local level legal aidorganizations would liaise with and train local authorities on rights, the law, and legal aid.Public meetings and other forums would be organized at the village and commune level sothat villagers could gain a better understanding of these issues. Legal aid agencies would usebooks, posters, leaflets and other media, with an emphasis on images rather than texts,especially for semi-literate or illiterate groups. The materials could be planned, designed andproduced at the central level then distributed by legal aid organizations locally. These legalaid organizations could cooperate with agencies and organizations working in other sectorssuch as health, education and women’s affairs, thus reducing costs and increasing reach andimpact.Likewise, broadcast media activities would be planned centrally in coordination with locallegal aid organizations, integrating grassroots communication with broadcasts by such meansas listening and discussion groups. Radio and television broadcasts could be interlinked andcould include spot-message advertising and dedicated programs in different formats including‘soap opera’ and drama series. Survey respondents emphasized the impact of television, evenif it is less accessible than radio in rural areas.Such a communications strategy would be complex and would need substantial resources.