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The Right to Justice: Providing Legal Aid Services in Zimbabwe. A qualitative analysis of the legal frameworks that treat the provision of legal aid services & the realities of their implementation

Hedlund, Annie LU and Neutel, Leah LU (2014) MIDM19 20141
LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
Abstract
This aim of this research was to investigate possible reasons for the large gap between legal frameworks and policies in comparison to the practical implementation of Legal Aid Services in Zimbabwe. The responsibility of the state to provide legal aid, protection and civil legal aid necessary to ensure this provision for those who cannot afford such is affirmed by international legal instruments, which confirm the state’s obligation to ensure this. Our study focused on women as they belong to the great majority of those who seek legal aid. Furthermore, they are disproportionately exposed to poverty as well as Human Rights Violation and Violence in Zimbabwe. Through our textual analysis on the implementation of these policies, it is clear... (More)
This aim of this research was to investigate possible reasons for the large gap between legal frameworks and policies in comparison to the practical implementation of Legal Aid Services in Zimbabwe. The responsibility of the state to provide legal aid, protection and civil legal aid necessary to ensure this provision for those who cannot afford such is affirmed by international legal instruments, which confirm the state’s obligation to ensure this. Our study focused on women as they belong to the great majority of those who seek legal aid. Furthermore, they are disproportionately exposed to poverty as well as Human Rights Violation and Violence in Zimbabwe. Through our textual analysis on the implementation of these policies, it is clear that this is a matter of financial resources, capacity, priority as well as poorly defined policies. The government has failed to provide legal aid and has transferred its responsibility. Instead, private organisations have taken over the ‘burden’ of providing legal aid. However, this is not without challenges. Without a holistic understanding of the society, culture and norms, this issue will remain poorly prioritised, underfunded, and neglected whereby the victims will remain without justice. As one of our respondents stated that, “We need to tackle causes and not the symptoms, this is an endless work and a tragedy for those we cannot help.” (Less)
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author
Hedlund, Annie LU and Neutel, Leah LU
supervisor
organization
course
MIDM19 20141
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Legal Aid, Implementation, Public Services, Human Rights, Justice, Women, Failed State, Weak Governance, Social, Economic, Zimbabwe
language
English
id
4446615
date added to LUP
2014-08-06 11:04:13
date last changed
2014-09-10 11:31:12
@misc{4446615,
  abstract     = {{This aim of this research was to investigate possible reasons for the large gap between legal frameworks and policies in comparison to the practical implementation of Legal Aid Services in Zimbabwe. The responsibility of the state to provide legal aid, protection and civil legal aid necessary to ensure this provision for those who cannot afford such is affirmed by international legal instruments, which confirm the state’s obligation to ensure this. Our study focused on women as they belong to the great majority of those who seek legal aid. Furthermore, they are disproportionately exposed to poverty as well as Human Rights Violation and Violence in Zimbabwe. Through our textual analysis on the implementation of these policies, it is clear that this is a matter of financial resources, capacity, priority as well as poorly defined policies. The government has failed to provide legal aid and has transferred its responsibility. Instead, private organisations have taken over the ‘burden’ of providing legal aid. However, this is not without challenges. Without a holistic understanding of the society, culture and norms, this issue will remain poorly prioritised, underfunded, and neglected whereby the victims will remain without justice. As one of our respondents stated that, “We need to tackle causes and not the symptoms, this is an endless work and a tragedy for those we cannot help.”}},
  author       = {{Hedlund, Annie and Neutel, Leah}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Right to Justice: Providing Legal Aid Services in Zimbabwe. A qualitative analysis of the legal frameworks that treat the provision of legal aid services & the realities of their implementation}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}