Legal Aid Desk Project

Project Overview:

The Enhanced Access of Legal Aid Services to Marginalised Populations Pilot Project, led by Utu Kwanza, aims to provide crucial legal assistance to poor and marginalized detainees and remandees in the Primary and District Court in Tanzania. This initiative is designed as a preventative measure to support the accused before they are subjected to remand prison or the fifteen-day expiration period—the maximum duration for trial adjournment for an accused person admitted to prison.

Our Approach:

Utu Kwanza’s Legal Aid Desk operates on a legal empowerment approach, focusing on equipping detainees and remandees with vital legal information and education. Our dedicated lawyers work tirelessly to enhance their knowledge and confidence, enabling them to better protect their rights. Key components of our approach include:

  • Legal Information and Education: Providing comprehensive legal knowledge to help detainees understand their rights and the legal processes they face.
  • Individual Case Advice: Offering tailored legal advice to help the accused navigate their specific legal situations, including exploring alternative dispute resolutions.
  • Immediate Legal Services: Facilitating bail applications, locating sureties and parents of juveniles, and making essential phone calls to ensure the accused’s rights are secured.

Pro Bono Legal Representation: Recruiting and assigning experienced legal representatives from pro bono law firms to represent the accused in court. Each legal representative is carefully screened to ensure a proven record of good practice, prioritizing the needs of the accused

Our Success and Growth Needs

We are proud to announce that we launched our first Legal Aid Desk at the Kinondoni District Court on May 7th, 2024, with the help of three dedicated volunteers. Despite our limited resources and initial funding, the demand for our services has been overwhelming, highlighting the urgent need for expanded legal support.

To continue and grow this vital work, we need to raise close to $100,000 by December 31st, 2024. Our goal is to extend our Legal Aid Desk services to the Primary Court of Kariakoo, the Resident Magistrate Court at Kisutu, and the District Court at Ilala by the end of this year.

Project Goals

The primary goal of the Legal Aid Desk Project is to strengthen the legal support available to marginalized populations, ensuring they receive fair and just treatment within the legal system. By providing immediate and effective legal services, we aim to reduce the number of detainees subjected to unnecessary remand and enhance the overall legal awareness and empowerment of the marginalized communities we serve.

Get Involved

We invite legal professionals and law firms with a commitment to justice and equality to join us in this vital work. Your expertise and dedication can make a significant difference in the lives of those who are often overlooked and underserved. For more information on how you can contribute to this project, please contact us.

Support Our Cause

Your donations can help us sustain and expand the Legal Aid Desk Project, ensuring that more individuals receive the legal support they need. Every contribution brings us one step closer to a more just and equitable legal system. To help us reach our goal of $100,000 by December 31st, 2024, and to support the expansion to additional courts, please visit our donation page.

For more information about the Legal Aid Desk Project and other initiatives by Utu Kwanza, please contact us at info@utukwanza.org

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