Sweden Continues Commitment on Supporting Vietnam's Legal Aid System

Sweden and Vietnam signed a bilateral agreement on December 2 on the implementation of the project “Support to the Legal Aid System in Vietnam”.

The agreement constitutes the continuation of Sweden’s support to Vietnam’s Legal Aid System from 2001 to 2004. In the coming phase, Sweden will not only provide financial and technical support and assistance but also lead the donor coordination and the donor harmonisation efforts in the field.

“Support to the Legal Aid System in Vietnam” will contribute to ensuring equal access to justice for the Vietnamese poor and disadvantaged groups, including children, ethnic minorities and women so that they can enjoy their legal tights upheld by Vietnamese law and international human rights treaties ratified by Vietnam.

Jointly funded by Sweden, Switzerland, Novib of the Netherlands, and Save the Children/ Sweden, the four-year project, 2005-2009, will be implemented by the National Legal Aid Agency. Out of the total fund of EUR 7.9 million (US$9.26 million) contributed by the international donors, Sweden will provide SEK 43 million (US$5.36 million). The Government of Vietnam will contribute EUR 7.8 million (US$9.14 million).

The project will also provide technical support to the National Legal Aid Agency and to the whole legal aid system both at the central and local levels.
Thu Huyen