‘Justice is a fundamental Human Right’

Madam Chilla, a consultant, has said that legal aid is a fundamental human right, as is access to justice for all, noting that working for justice and making everybody to have access to justice is paramount.

“Justice is a fundamental human right, be you poor or rich,” she added.

Madam Chilla, who was the consultant for the Legal Aid Agency, was presenting a report during a day’s validation workshop on a consultancy report organised by the National Agency for Legal Aid (NALA) held yesterday at the Seaview Hotel in Kololi.

In his opening remarks, Justice Lamin Jobarteh, Chair of the National Agency for Legal Aid, stated that the Legal Aid Act, 2008 is already operational, and has been in existence for three months now.

He added that the legal aid agency has dealt with 21 cases within 20 days in  the provinces, and that this was not easy without adequate funds, noting that the legal aid agency has succeeded at the local level.

Justice Jobarteh stated that access to justice is the priority of the NALA, maintaining that the government’s concern is to bring justice to the doorstep of the people, adding that, with proper planning, justice can reach all parts of the Gambia.

Charles Thomas, the administrator of NALA pointed out that the provision of legal aid is a device for enabling and ensuring access to justice, and the rights of individuals.

He said this has been for long the pre-occupation of the government, noting that it was for this reason that the legal aid has been provided for.