'As crucial as a condom' brought together lawyers from Ukraine, Cambodia, Indonesia, Botswana and the United States all working to provide legal support and facilitate legal ampowerment for criminalised groups.
Igor Skalko, detailing the strengths and weaknesses of various options open to people who use drugs in Ukraine, came to the conclusions that friendly NGO lawyers are the best options due to low or no cost, strong motivation and support for drug users' rights. Skalko's organisation trains lawyers, educates clients, advocates for the interests of drug users and conducts strategic litigation.
Ly Pisey from Cambodia spoke about the application of the law on the streets, that police do not often apply the law, and lock up sex workers even though there is no specific law against sex work in the country (There are laws against brothels, soliciting and other activities however). Pisey set out a range of criteria for what a successful model for legal aid might look like, and how such a model might measure impact.
Ricky Gunawan's presentation (Indonesia) was about showing how legal aid was not about service provision but a process of inclusions and empowerment. Gunawan's organisation seeks to engage with communities in a variety of ways, from education to psychosocial interventions in order to integrate the legal community and the people in need of legal support. Gunawan's view was that we should never start with problems, but with communities' potential and strengths.
Uyapo Ndadi presented on BONELA, a legal aid organisation in Botswana, and informed participants about a number of successes and failures his organisation had experienced in the courts. In one case a man was dismissed from employment because of his HIV status and BONELA achieved a finding against the employer in court. In another, however, the court found that there was nothing in the law to prevent a company requiring a HIV test as a prerequisite of employment. Today, BONELA is spearheading a legal campaign against Botswana's sodomy laws.
Jonathan Cohenfrom OSI wrapped up the session by reminding participants that legal aid is an aspect of the right to health, a human rights in itself, and a central strategy in systemic reform, including decriminalisation.
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