The UNIFEM call for proposals is for “support for standardization of legal aid service provision to victims of domestic violence. “The focus of the Call is on improving the quality and expanding the outreach of legal aid services to victims of domestic violence throughout the country. For the purposes of this Call, the scope of legal aid services includes: a) provision of free of charge primary legal aid, i.e. initial legal advice on the right to use legal aid, general legal information, legal aid in drafting legal or administrative documents and/or b) legal representation in court.
UNIFEM will support civil society organizations (CSOs) to pilot the standards for legal aid that have been developed by a UNIFEM-supported team of experts based on consultations with CSOs, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and the National Coordination Body for the Implementation of the National Strategy against Domestic Violence.
The proposals responding to this Call should clearly show how proposed activities will contribute to some or all of the following objectives:
- Improve the response to the needs for legal assistance of victims of domestic violence
- Improve the system of keeping records on victim/perpetrator and services offered
- Strengthen the referral mechanisms between CSOs and other institutions offering protection to victims of domestic violence, as well as referrals to lawyers for legal representation
- Increase victims’ awareness of and access to available legal services
- Promote proactive approaches in dealing with victims by offering further support in case of referrals
- Establish tools for increasing victims’ safety, through confidentiality and safety planning
- Periodically evaluate the effectiveness of the CSO provision of services to victims of domestic violence
- Record good practices and lessons learned to be shared with other stakeholders providing services for protection to victims of domestic violence.
The deadline to submit concept notes is 29 March 2010. For more information, visit this link.
