Lawyers of Hope to expand free judicial services

A network of lawyers from Lawyers of Hope, vowed to continue speaking out for the voiceless and defend the cause of the needy and poor.This was disclosed, Friday, by Frank Kigenza the president of Lawyers of Hope in Rwanda in a function designed to raise the profile of legal aid providers and to reach out to as many people as possible with free legal aid services.

Saturday, October 08, 2011
Members of Lawyers of Hope at the meeting yesterday. The New Times / Courtesy.

A network of lawyers from Lawyers of Hope, vowed to continue speaking out for the voiceless and defend the cause of the needy and poor.

This was disclosed, Friday, by Frank Kigenza the president of Lawyers of Hope in Rwanda in a function designed to raise the profile of legal aid providers and to reach out to as many people as possible with free legal aid services.

Speaking at the event, Isabelle Karerangabo the deputy Attorney General, hailed the association’s role in building a strong foundation for justice.

"We appreciate your intervention especially in filling the gaps in the areas of human rights since public institutions cannot manage to intervene in order to protect rights of every individual living in Rwanda without intervention of organizations such as Lawyers of Hope,” she said.

As an association of Christian lawyers and law students, Lawyers of Hope aims at reaching out to more vulnerable members of the society, such as children, prisoners and other needy people to seek justice on their behalf by providing legal aid through legal education, advice and representation.

Mathew Price, the International Director of Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship, the LOH international donor, commended the good work and the achievements registered.

He called upon the lawyers to intervene by defending the weak, using rights as provided in the laws governing the society where intervention is needed.

Lawyers of Hope recently took part in Legal Aid Week, where their lawyers delivered legal advice and assistance to over 300 prisoners and subsequently developed a funding proposal to work in two local prisons.

Lawyers of Hope Rwanda, is an association of Christian lawyers. It was founded in 2006 and currently has approximately 50 lawyers and 100 students in its membership.

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