AKIPRESS.COM - The Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic and the USAID Jigerduu Jarandar Project signed a Memorandum of Understanding on November 3 to assist the country’s efforts to expand citizens’ access to justice.

The memorandum concluded between the Ministry and FHI 360, the organization implementing the Jigerduu Jarandar Project, envisions support for improving and strengthening of free legal aid to Kyrgyzstanis. By joining the memorandum, USAID Jigerduu Jarandar project will contrinbute to further development of the system by which citizens have access to legal information and support.

As part of the memorandum, the Ministry of Justice and Jigerduu Jarandar Project will work together to:
- strengthen the legal framework for the provision of free legal aid and enhance the legal culture;
- upgrade the professionalism of Free Legal Aid Center (FLACs) lawyers through creating opportunities for their continuing legal education and specialization of the lawyers on issues such as gender based violence, children’s rights, and land/property rights, as well as civil law issues;
- promote cooperation between FLACs and the non-government organizations specializing in legal aid provision;
- conduct public outreach campaigns to increase legal awareness and strengthen the legal culture of the general population.

During the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony, Minister of Justice Ayaz Baetov expressed his appreciation to the Jigerduu Jarandar Project Team for their cooperation in promoting rule of law and human rights protection in Kyrgyzstan and noted the important role of the FLAC centers. "We will make every effort to ensure that FLAC centers become a key element of the country’s legal services provision as well as legal education (literacy) systems,” said Mr. Baetov.

“Today’s Memorandum of Understanding will promote the legal empowerment and active participation of Kyrgyz citizens to claim and utilize their legal rights,” said Mr. Kregg Halstead, Chief of Party of “Jigerduu Jarandar” Project.