A young girl planting flowers at the grounds of the Women's Legal Clinic in Herat.
Legal Support Afghanistan 2019 2020 2021 2022

AIL’s Women’s Legal Clinic

Afghanistan
Human Act has decided to support Connecther’s AIL’s Women’s Legal Clinic Project in Herat

Working with the Ministry of Women Affairs (MOWA) and the Human Rights Commission (HRC), AIL’s Women’s Legal Clinic Project in Herat provides legal support for indigent women. The five dedicated female lawyers assist women referred by the MOWA and HRC, as well as women who hear about the project on the radio or through other means.

The law clinic has won the trust of the women by taking on complicated cases for those with no financial resources and unable to fight for their rights. Staff lawyers work on a variety of cases affecting women, including child custody battles, protecting property or inheritance rights, and securing justice in cases related to child marriage, marriage without consent of the girl, and abuse.

In addition, the Legal Clinic staff speaks regularly about legal issues regarding women’s rights and the services of the legal clinic over Radio Merai, Dr. Yacoobi’s private radio station which is housed in the AIL’s office and supported by AIL. The Clinic legal staff also take part in women rights and legal symposiums, giving the staff the opportunity to see what others are doing.

The project is financed by the founders.

Human Act continues to support one of Connecther’s projects in Afghanistan. The Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) opened its legal clinic in Herat in 2015 and presently has a team of three experienced, female lawyers. The AIL´s Legal Clinic assists women with legal support. The women are introduced to the clinic through the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Human Rights Commission or through other channels, such as Dr. Yacoobi’s Radio Meraj. Women, who are very poor, are represented for free. Others pay as they are able.

In 2018, the legal clinic dealt with 136 cases including cases of murder, robbery, divorce, kidnapping, violence against women, traffic accidents, business issues, inheritance, child abuse, alimony, early marriage, marriage without consent of the girl, drug trafficking. In addition to advising and defending women in court cases, the project lawyers are weekly “on the air” of Dr. Yacoobi’s Radio Meraj informing women of their rights, educating people on the laws of the country and responding to call-in questions from the public. Topics covered in radio broadcasts include: Islamic law (women’s rights), election law, women’s rights and business issues. It has been helpful for the 2 million Afghans that live in the Herat area served by Radio Meraj. The clinic also helps men if required.

 

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