LEGAL AID BOOTH

Although it was a week day, International Women’s Day 2010 drew in a remarkable crowd on opening day Monday 8^th. March.    The event was jointly organized by Perak Women For Women and Soroptimist International Ipoh, and officiated by YB Dato Hamidah Osman, EXCO Wanita Perak.

 Perak Legal Aid Centre along with 14 other Ngos were invited to setup booths to create more awareness to the public.  The theme for this year was “Equal Rights Equal Opportunities – Progress For All.  Excited crowd thronged the concourse area of Kinta City Shopping Centre daily from 10 a.m to 10.30 p.m. to take advantage of the information from the booths.  Twelve chambering students participated in manning the booths during the week long event and there were 45 consultations.

  Most visitors were seen moving from booth to booth picking flyers and seeking advise. Bustling with fun and activities, happy shoppers and visitors  alike were also seen playing games and taking part in the many interactive events arranged by the organizers.  Abuzz with shrieks of excitement were the exciting performances all night long.  The week long event ended with a big bang last night 14^th March 2010 accompanied with music and entertainment .  The organizers thanked all of us for making the event a huge success.

- contributed by M. Gokoolaram Naidu

Well, the International Women's Day, 8^th of March, is an occasion marked by women's groups all around the world, where their voices are gathered in a celebratory shout in recognition of the struggles and victories of the women's movement for equality, justice, peace and development. It is also a day to plan for future strategies in eliminating all forms of discrimination against women.

Withholding to this occasion itself, there was this Women’s Day campaign week, held in Kinta City Ipoh ( 8.3.2010 - 14.3.2010 ) where various WOMEN’S groups and NGO’s had taken part in the said campaign by setting up information booths for the public. Nevertheless, the Bar Council Legal Aid Centre (LAC) had also joined-in and opened its information booth at the same location from 10 a.m to 10 p.m for the entire week.

The LAC has taken the opportunity to provide the public with the functions of LAC which are:-

1. Offer free legal advice, representation and intervention for civil and criminal matter;
2. Offer assistance in mitigation of sentences, remand proceedings and bail applications; and
3. Creates awareness and educates the public on their rights.

The week-long campaign was indeed a fruitful one. There were crowds and people had actually approached the LAC’s booth with their problems and seek for legal consultations. This entire campaign has actually got in touch with public particularly the women to understand and overcome the issues affecting them.

As today, the ignorance of the Law is no longer considered a bliss, therefore the LAC has to step forward and provides the people with the equal opportunity for the enforcements of their fundamental right to equality before the law. Hence, I do hope more campaigns akin to this should be conducted more often in near future. 

- contributed by a Pupil in Chamber who prefers to remain anonymous