Palembang, South Sumatra (ANTARA) - The Law and Human Rights Ministry had begun conducting screening on legal aid institutes (LBH) that will become partners in protecting South Sumatra's poor people facing legal issues.

"To choose legal aid institutes which (we) will be partnering with, in this July 2023, it begins with (information) dissemination of screening and identification of prospective legal aides for the 2025-2027 period," Head of the South Sumatra Office of the ministry, Ilham Djaya, noted in Palembang on Thursday.

Djaya deemed that the screening is necessary, as in 2024, the ministry will conduct verification and accreditation of legal aides that have been screened and chosen to help the people of lower socio-economic status.

The verification and accreditation is hosted every three years, and some requirements, such as organizational structure, accreditation, board of management, and legal aid programs, have to be met by prospective legal aides, he explained.

He also noted that the prospective legal aides must be aware of the procedures and phases of registration so as to enable their proper screening and be selected as institutions that will offer high-quality legal assistance for poor people.

Currently, 13 legal aid organizations across the province's districts and cities are verified at the office, he affirmed.

Djaya stated that legal aid is a facility from the state that has been stipulated in Law Number 16 of 2011 on legal assistance, in which it ensures fulfillment of their constitutional rights of being acknowledged, getting legal protection, and a just treatment.

The acting head of legal and human rights services at the office, Idris, said that the screening is performed to get high-quality prospective legal aids.

Idris expected that the initiative would push up the number of legal aides in that province that can be optimized to bring justice at a greater scope, covering the poor people.

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Translator: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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