Public Discussion on the Draft Law on Free Legal Assistance



Ministry of Justice of BiH is organizing public discussion on the Draft Law on Free Legal Assistance, which will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2011, (Blue Room, Building of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, at 10.00h). The law defines basic principles of the free legal assistance, according to which law-income and indigent people have equal right to the assistance of the state, Entities and other competent bodies, in court and other proceedings. 

The aim is to harmonize minimum standards for providing free legal assistance, in order that citizens can be equal and to prevent discrimination arising from the deficiencies of the existing legal framework. The law also regulates the issue of providing free legal assistance before the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Creating of the functional system in the area of providing free legal assistance in criminal, civil and administrative proceedings at all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is one of the strategic objectives of BiH Justice Sector Reform Strategy. As a member country of the Council of Europe and as a potential candidate country for the accession to the European Union, Bosnia and Herzegovina is obliged to ensure equal treatment of all citizens in that area.