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CeLRRd is a non-governmental organization, founded in its present form in 1998. Its fundamental goal is to accelerate the process of systemic change in society, by fostering widespread understanding of the Rule of Law and unrestricted access to free and fair Justice. ...........
........CeLRRd aims to achieve this through research, resource development, community mobilization, legal awareness and legal aid activities. Its strategic objectives are to:
- Safeguard the rights and interests of disadvantaged segments of Nepalese society.
- Conduct research activities on socio-legal issues that have direct impact on the lives of Nepali people.
- Foster legal professionalism with an emphasis on “alternative lawyering”.
- Conduct extensive paralegal and general legal awareness programs for the benefit of the grassroots community.
- Provide extended and institutionalized legal aid services to the victims of injustice and Human Rights violations.
- Lobby for essential and appropriate legislation, providing professional assistance in the drafting process.
CeLRRd has three branch offices for the implementation of its programs in the regions: Nepalgunj, Chitwan and Biratnagar. The majority of its staffs are highly trained lawyers, experienced in the techniques of “alternative lawyering”, a new approach of professional outreach for the public interest. The gender sensitivity training is one of the essential components.
CeLRRd believes that activities in which it is involved at local level should be done in partnership with those communities. In this work, CeLRRd aims to operate through grassroots level organizations, and for all activities to be community owned. CeLRRd's staff should be responsive to community needs, and provide regular encouragement and support for their activities.
CeLRRd works through a network of 11 Community Legal Research Centers (CLRCs) throughout Nepal . Each CLRC is registered as an independent non-governmental organization, and is a link between CeLRRd and community groups, paralegal committees in particular, working at grassroots level. Members of CLRCs have taken part in gender sensitization training and TOT (Training of Trainers) on the organization of CSSAT, CeLRRd's project against trafficking. From December 2001, the activities of CSSAT have been coordinated from CeLRRd's regional office in Chitwan.
CeLRRd in 1998 conducted a three days Gender Sensitivity Training for 90 lawyers from Biratnagar to Nepalgunj. The group of lawyers thus trained had been encouraged to formulate Community Legal Research Center , CLRC, in respective districts. This training was a prelude to the implementation of CSSAT Program. Subsequently, a group of 33 lawyers had been selected from amongst those 90 lawyers for “a 7 day Training of Trainers” on CSSAT Program. Those who participated in this TOT Program had been appointed as Program in Charge and Support Lawyers to CSSAT Program. CSSAT Program was implemented in Jhapa, Sunsari, Udayapur, Parsa, Makwanpur , Dolakha, Sindhupalchowk, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Chitwan, Nawalparashi, Banke , Kanchanpur, and Dadeldhura. In total 244 Village Development Committees (VDCs) have been covered under the program. Each VDC has constituted a Paralegal Committee. CLRC work in the CSSAT Program, through VDC Paralegal Committee. CeLRRd is directly linked up with CLRC through CSSAT unit at Central Office. For the last two years the unit functions based at Bharatpur and Chitwan. |
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