Channel News Asia reports that Singapore intends to serve as a base to train lawyers, officials and justice advocates in developing countries in the region, with the aim of equipping them with skills and the know-how to provide legal aid to their citizens.
?
We learn? that The Justice Training Centre in Singapore, which will conduct the training, was launched earlier this week with a 4-day training course by the International Bridges to Justice (IBJ). Over 20 participants from ASEAN countries took part.
The non-government organisation provides training to those working in the legal and justice system where laws are not implemented due to administrative and infrastructural limitations.
IBJ's founder, Karen Tse, said despite ASEAN countries having passed laws in the last decade, providing legal aid for its citizens remains a problem. And this is where IBJ comes in.
Here's the rest of the report
"Although many people go to law school, they may not actually be in systems that have developed the active use of defence for the accused. Although the laws are actually on the books, they're only there in the principle, but not in the implementation. Many of our trainings actually are very very simple, nuts and bolts pieces," said Ms Tse.
The Justice Training Centre at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy is partly funded by the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Economic Development Board.
The Law Society also supports the programme by providing, on a pro-bono basis, practicing lawyers to train the participants.
Wendell Wong, the Law Society's Chairman of the Criminal Practice Committee, said: "Ultimately some of the tools that we are going to share, some of our experiences have a common language. And if you're passionate about this area, and you are a keen advocate for change, regardless of the different systems that you will have in your host countries, the ability to share ideas and just to talk about what matters most, will be critical."
Ms Tse explained why she chose to hold the course in Singapore.
"We realised Singapore, not only because of its skills, but because of its technology, because of its advancement, but also because of the openness of the heart of the people in Singapore to support the region, was the right place for us."
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1111805/1/.html
