Examining the Effectiveness of Legal Empowerment as a Pathway Out of Poverty : A Case Study of BRAC

This paper examines the current status of justice and dispute-resolution mechanisms in Bangladesh, ranging from the formal justice system to the traditional shalish (a form of dispute resolution), and focuses on the costs and benefits of utilizing nongovernmental organization (NGO)-led legal services programs as an alternative form of justice delivery and dispute resolution for the poor, with a focus on women and girls. In particular, this paper takes a closer look at a the Human Rights and Legal Aid Services (HRLS) program of BRAC, a leading NGO that works to empower the poorest and most vulnerable in Bangladesh and eleven other countries across the world. HRLS provides a combination of Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC)-led shalish, human rights community based education, community mobilization through a corps of community-based outreach workers (known as shebikas), and recourse to the courts via a network of panel lawyers if needed. This paper will examine the successes of this model in rural Bangladesh as well as the challenges it faces in making an impact on solving the justice problems of the poor and contributing to gender equity. Ultimately, it aims to present a case study that illustrates the strengths and challenges of a legal empowerment model that is quickly gaining traction around the world.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	Kolisetty, Akhila
Format:	Working Paper biblioteca
Language:	English en_US
Published:	World Bank, Washington, DC 2014-01
Subjects:	ACCESS TO JUSTICE, ACCESS TO LAND, ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES, ACCOUNTABILITY, ACTIONS, ACTS, ADR, ADVOCACY, AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, ALIMONY, ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, ASSETS, AUTHORITY, BRIBE, BRIBES, CITIZENSHIP, CIVIL LAWS, CIVIL PROCEDURE, CIVIL SOCIETY, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, COMPENSATION, COMPLAINT, COMPLAINTS, COMPROMISES, CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, CORRUPT, CORRUPTION, COURT, COURTS, CRIME, CRIME CONTROL, CRIMES, CRIMINAL, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, CRIMINAL LAW, CUSTOMS, DEMOCRACIES, DEMOCRACY, DISADVANTAGED GROUPS, DISCRIMINATION, DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN, DIVORCE, DIVORCED WOMEN, DIVORCES, DOMESTIC ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, EMPOWERMENT, EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, EX-HUSBAND, EX-WIFE, EXTRAMARITAL RELATIONS, FAMILIES, FAMILY LAW, FAMILY LAWS, FATWAS, FEMALE, GENDER, GENDER EQUITY, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, HINDU LAW, HOME, HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION, HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS, HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, HUSBAND, HUSBANDS, IMPLEMENTATION OF LAWS, IMPRISONMENT, INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, INFORMAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION, INHERITANCE, INHERITANCE LAW, INITIATIVE, INJUSTICE, INJUSTICES, INTERNATIONAL LAW, INVESTIGATION, ISLAMIC LAW, JUDGE, JUDGES, JUDICIAL PROCESS, JUDICIAL REMEDY, JUDICIAL SERVICE, JUDICIARY, JUSTICE, LAND DISPUTES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, LAW LIBRARIES, LAWS, LAWYER, LAWYERS, LEGAL AID, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, LEGAL CHALLENGES, LEGAL EDUCATION, LEGAL ISSUES, LEGAL LITERACY, LEGAL REMEDIES, LEGAL REPRESENTATION, LEGAL RIGHT, LEGAL RIGHTS, LEGAL SERVICES, LEGAL STATUS, LEGISLATION, LIBERATION, LITERACY, LITIGATION, LOCAL LEGAL AID, MARITAL PROPERTY, MARRIAGES, MARRIED WOMEN, MEDIA, MEDIATION, MEDIATORS, MUSLIM WOMEN, OFFENCES, OFFENDERS, OFFENSE, POLICE, POSSESSION, PRISONS, PROFESSIONALS, PROPERTY RIGHTS, PROSECUTION, PROSECUTORS, RAPE, RELIGION, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, RELIGIOUS LEADERS, RESIDENCE, RIGHT, RIGHTS OF WOMEN, RULE OF LAW, RURAL WOMEN, SERVICE DELIVERY, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, SOCIAL CHANGE, SPOUSAL VIOLENCE, SUMMARIES, THEFT, TRIALS, VICTIMS, VIOLATIONS, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, WIFE, WILL, WIVES, WOMAN, WOMEN'S RIGHTS,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/01/18933865/examining-effectiveness-legal-empowerment-pathway-out-poverty-case-study-brac http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17563
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