CLE, as part of the cooperation with the Free Legal Aid Directorate, has engaged paralegal Ms. Suela Fetau at the Tirana Legal Aid Center where she has undertaken several activities in the framework of the promotion of Free Legal Aid.
These activities were developed in cooperation with the Primary Legal Aid Centers of some of the cities where these activities were also developed, such as Tirana, Elbasani, Fieri and Patosi. The purpose of these activities has been to promote and raise the awareness of the participants in state institutions, in private institutions, near different NGOs and on the ground in areas where the number of people in need is high.
Regarding the results of this campaign, Ms. Fetahu said: “Activities of this promotional nature, raising awareness for the Directorate of Free Legal Aid and primary legal aid have been welcomed by the participants. This has become evident at the moment of searching for more detailed information, in their request to know about the location of QNJP as well as in the presentation of various problems.”
The activities started in Elbasan on September 23, where the meeting was held with the Regional Director of the National Employment and Skills Agency in Elbasan, Mrs. Marsida Hyseni. Present at the meeting were the representative of the Directorate of Free Legal Aid Mrs. Suela Qevani, Paralegal Mrs. Suela Fetau as well as the employees of the Elbasan Primary Legal Aid Service Center, Mrs. Mikaela Mema and Mr. Arian Bala.
The meetings continued on September 27 and 28 at the Community Center “Stay Together” in Kombinat and at the Tirana Social Insurance Institute.
On September 30, the meetings returned to Elbasan at the Regional Directorate of State Social Service Elbasan as the directorate that includes three sectors:
- The social sector
- Economic aid
- Disability.
Meanwhile, the month of October started with the meeting on the 4th near the National Center for the Treatment of Victims of Domestic Violence in Kamëz where the women participated, in the presence of the social worker Mrs. Redinela.
The activities continued in Fier, in cooperation with the Fier QNJ, where a meeting was held with the Director of the Fier Post Office Mrs. Suela Prifti.
On October 14, an awareness activity was held with a focus on the third age, – the elderly who have a low income and belong to the special category, as well as pension beneficiaries due to disability – near the Kamez Multipurpose Day Center which welcomes around 30 elderly people from the Kamza area every day. During this activity, information was provided about law no. 111/ 2017, for DNJF, the beneficiary categories of the law, the location of the Tirana QNJ.
During the month of November, the activities started on the 11th with the meeting organized between the Free Legal Aid Directorate and the Kosovo Legal Aid Agency. The Kosovo delegation closely visited the Primary Legal Aid Service Center in Tirana, where they had the opportunity to closely follow the treatment of the problem of a citizen interested in obtaining legal aid guaranteed by the state.
The day then continued with a meeting with the Advisor to the Minister of Justice at the premises of the Ministry of Justice, where the main developments of the two free legal aid systems were discussed.
On November 14, the Minister of Justice, Mr. Ulsi Manja, held the ceremony of distribution of authorizations for the provision of primary legal assistance to 15 non-profit organizations.
During the ceremony of distribution of authorizations, Minister Manja expressed his commitment to continue cooperation with these organizations within the framework of fulfilling the mission “Guarantee of access to justice for all citizens”.
It was also emphasized once again that free Legal Aid supports:
- layers in need;
- increases citizens’ access to justice;
- facilitates the work of the public administration and the court;
as well as the efficient use of the free legal aid mechanism that will be the focus of the Ministry of Justice and the Free Legal Aid Directorate.
The November 16 meeting was held with the Romani Baht Association and the Center for Community Action. First, the meeting was held with the head of the Romani Baht association Mr. Pëllumb and Mr. Ervis of the Center for Community Action, and then the meeting continued with some families in need.
The next day, November 17, a meeting was held at the 9-year-old school “Bajram Curri“, Tirana, with the director of the school, Mr. Genci Mosho, who evaluated the awareness-raising activity on DNJF, stressing that it was necessary for the students and their families. theirs. In the discussions with the vice-principals of the school Mrs. Majlinda and Mrs. Marjeta and the school psychologist expressed their appreciation for the informative session. For this reason, in the following weeks, an informative activity with parents is planned, an activity was also developed with the teaching staff of this school.
The 18th celebrated the development of the activity in honor of the 19th and 20th of November which are the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse and the International Day of the Rights of the Children. This activity took place at the “Mahir Domi” high school in Elbasan. Together with the social worker and the students, some explanatory case examples were presented regarding the benefit of free legal aid.
Also, during the month of November, a meeting was held with the Center for the Rights of Roma Women in Tirana. This meeting was held on November 22 near the premises of this center.
On December 12, was organized the meeting with with CEO of the Albanian Disability Rights Foundation, Mrs. Blerta Çani Drenofci, who expressed the importance of the benefit of free legal aid for people with disabilities, since the problems for this category are very different.
Other meetings were held near the premises of various universities in the country, mainly in the universities where Law Clinics are located, which helped to inform students about the clinics and Free Legal Aid. The first meeting took place on November 25 near “Beder” University College in Tirana. On December 1 and 5, the meetings continued with the students of the “Mediterranean University” and the “Qiriazi University College” in Tirana.
During the meetings, students expressed interest in being part of Law Clinics in their faculties and in participating in various trainings organized by DNJF and CLE.
The activities ended with the meeting on December 14 near the Balashe Multifunctional Center, this meeting was held in cooperation with the Elbasan Legal Aid Center. The meeting was held with residents with disabilities who were informed about the benefits they have from DNJF.
During this period, Ms. Fetau was also engaged in providing paralegal assistance to persons who, during the meetings, presented some of the problems they encountered. Ms. Fetau assisted them with the necessary relevant information and in some cases enabled the connection of contacts with Free Legal Aid Centers.
Meetings and awareness campaigns on Primary Legal Aid services continue.
