Through the Community Legal Services project we work to improve access to justice for people in Bangladesh by supporting the delivery of legal services to poor, marginalised and socially excluded communities in hard-to-reach areas.
Working with Maxwell Stamp PLC, we provide grants to a range of civil society and community-based organisations to support civil society capacity building, research and advocacy, the delivery of community legal services, and justice sector co-ordination.
Improving access to justice through grant making
Grants are provided to a range of Bangladeshi non-governmental organisations, selected through a rigorous application process. Grant funding is being used to support diverse activities, reflecting the needs and accessibility requirements of the communities involved. These activities include:
- Community mediation services
- Training community paralegals
- Legal aid for poor and marginalised communities
- Activating village courts and arbitration councils
- Mobilising communities through legal and human rights awareness sessions
- Advocacy for pro-poor and gender-friendly changes in policies and practices
- Combating violence against women through legal action, advocacy, research and policy reviews.