The Legal Assistance Branch is responsible for programmes and policy relating to mainstream legal aid, financial assistance, community legal centres and the operation of the National Pro Bono Resource Centre.

With regard to legal aid, the State of Viet Nam has paid attention to increase legal aid activities, especially for poor people, people subject to State priority policies and women.

Developing a legal aid system was not a priority in a least developed country however, legal aid was provided by some NGOs.

Legal and technical assistance to such States would enable them to develop the administrative machinery to participate in mutual legal assistance and information sharing.

In 2000, the Legal Aid Act was amended to provide for a Legal Aid Board and a Legal Aid Fund.

legal assistance,

Legal Aid

110. Legal advice and assistance.

123. Legal advice and assistance.

A. Provision of legal assistance to Member States

The Legal Aid Services Council and the question of an independent statutory body for legal aid

Legal aid applications

As to article 38, international law did not provide a legal obligation to provide financial support.

In some countries, central authorities have been designated to deal with requests for judicial assistance from other countries, such as mutual legal assistance and extradition.

UNDCP provided assistance to eight CIS member States in drafting national drug control laws and regulations.

Free legal advice was provided by the Labour Inspectorate and the National Human Rights Office, and free legal aid was available in the country for those wishing to apply to the courts.

LAC Legal Assistance Centre

Legal advice and assistance

CONTENTS (continued)

Assistance in legal reform

The Family Violence Prevention Legal Services units deliver legal assistance, case work and court support to victims of family violence.

The Legal Aid Services Council and the question of an independent statutory body for legal aid 231 232 80

4.10 Regarding the question of legal aid that might be available to persons wishing to file a case with a court, the State party indicates that under the 1972 and 1997 Legal Aid Acts it is possible to give legal aid to any natural person in a legal matter if he or she is deemed to be in need of such assistance and his or her annual income does not exceed a specific limit.

States must provide support in the form of shelters, legal aid and medical, psychological, social and economic assistance.

Last year, the state government delivered on its commitment to bring legal aid funding up to the national average.

Section 26A of the Legal Aid Ordinance provides that a legal aid applicant who has been refused legal aid for an appeal to the Court of Final Appeal may seek a review of such refusal.

A. Provision of legal assistance to Member States 22 25 6

It also welcomes the Law on State Guaranteed Legal Aid of March 2000, which entitles disadvantaged persons to free legal aid in criminal, civil and administrative cases.

The Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales administers funding for the Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Programme, devised to assist women and children who are experiencing domestic violence to gain access to the legal system, obtain legal protection via an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order and turn to a support system that can help with other needs (e.g. financial, housing, emotional support, counselling and legal assistance).

In total, the 16 LAP national lawyers assisted 192 parties in 114 cases.

(a) State support for legal aid systems specializing in HIV AIDS casework, possibly involving community legal aid centres and or legal service services based in ASOs

Recipient countries reported a high degree of satisfaction with the legal assistance provided.

243. The Commission emphasized the importance of cooperation and coordination between development assistance agencies providing or financing legal technical assistance with the Secretariat, with a view to avoiding situations in which international assistance might lead to the adoption of national laws that would not represent internationally agreed standards, including UNCITRAL conventions and model laws.

(c) To continue to provide legal assistance to Member States that request it in adjusting their national laws, policies and infrastructures to implement the international drug control conventions, as well as assistance in training personnel responsible for applying the new laws

Technical assistance to law reform.

Technical assistance to law reform

Legal Aid Department 40 27

8 Legal Aid Ordinance, section 18A.

A. Assistance in legislative reform

(c) The Legal Assistance Fund (100 million pesos) to finance the activities of the Office of the Legal Assistant for Migrant Workers Affairs and

(e) Costs required for legal or expert assistance, medicines and medical services.

However, the State did provide legal assistance, free of charge, to women trying to put an end to their broken marriage.

The assistance to be provided by the legal advisory programme to the above mentioned countries will depend on the particular need of each country.

The State guarantees the access of the citizens to the courts and guarantees defendants the right to counsel and the right to assistance and legal aid.

Citizens will have increased access to legal advice and assistance through the creation of a prototypical and replicable legal aid society.