Lawyers Advocate for Simplified Access to Defendants
In December 2006, the Voice of Freedom National Human Rights Group invited Kyrgyzstan’s lawyers and attorneys to express their support for a draft amendment to a law that would simplify the procedure for defendants to meet with their lawyers.
Earlier in the year, the Group conducted a study on attorney access to defendants. The research, funded by Freedom House and USAID, revealed that meetings between detained defendants and their lawyers are only granted upon an official permission by an officer or a body in whose jurisdiction the criminal case is being prosecuted. This onerous procedure has effectively served to impede the rights of criminally prosecuted individuals to receive legal representation.
In response to these findings, human rights activists drafted a law and substantiation to initiate an amendment of the law to change the existing procedure. The initiative has gained support of several influential members of Parliament and officials within the Prime Minister’s Office.
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The Voice of Freedom National Human Group aims to simplify legal access
to defendants
Photo Credit: Freedom House |
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