Ministry of Law and Human Rights to Expand Cooperation with 1,000 Legal Aid Organisations

Pangkalpinang (ANTARA) — Indonesian Minister of Law and Human Rights Supratman Andi Agtas said the government will expand cooperation with 1,000 legal aid organisations (OBH) across Indonesia to broaden access to legal aid for people who cannot afford it. In Pangkalpinang on Wednesday evening, he stated that there are currently 777 legal aid organisations that have cooperated and the number would be increased to 1,000 OBH. ‘Currently there are only 777 and it will be increased to 1,000 OBH to provide legal aid to those unable to afford it,’ he said. He emphasised that cooperation with OBH is important to ensure access to justice can be felt evenly without discrimination, especially for the poor and vulnerable groups. ‘For Bangka Belitung alone there are only 10 OBH that are assisted and this will be increased so that the poor truly obtain access to justice before the law,’ he said. He targeted that this year the government could enter into cooperation with 1,000 OBH across Indonesia to handle cases of the poor and vulnerable groups. ‘This year we are aiming for 1,000 OBH and Babel will also be added,’ he said. The signing of the agreement is a follow-up to the adjustment of the budget ceiling for legal aid and the change of disbursement mechanism from non-contractual to contractual in accordance with the policy of the Pangkalpinang State Treasury Office. Johan explained that the change requires updating contracts so that the process of disbursing budgets and reimbursing the costs of carrying out legal aid can proceed in accordance with provisions. ‘The contract addendum resulting from sharpening the legal aid budget is expected to become a momentum to strengthen the joint commitment to provide professional, equitable, and easily accessible legal aid services to the public,’ he said.