Legal Defense Center

A Legal Defense Centre is being established in Dohuk Governorate at Harikar Office in partnership with UPP and funded by (UNDP and European Commission). The main objective of this center is to offer legal representation for not less than 50 cases. Mainly, beneficiaries are those don't have legal representation and are not able to cover the cost of hiring a lawyer to represent them at the court.

A handout was produced and printed summarizing the aim/objective of the centre and services provided in local Kurdish language. This handout was distributed to Governorate council, Governor's office, Local Police and Security Departments, Lawyer's Syndicate, Judiciary Union and detention centres across Dohuk Governorate to keep them aware of the centre services. In addition, Harikar tried to organize radio programs through local radio stations to publicize the centre work vis-a-vis the publics.

However, to assure access to free legal information a hot line is being set at the centre and working four hours a day (Sunday through Wednesday). Accordingly, the hotline number is being shared with Dohuk Lawyer Syndicate and all detention centres and the public through local radio. A qualified and well trained lawyer is running the hotline and providing free legal information; guidance and consultation to those seek for legal advices.

Regularly, an assessment visits are made to the main prison and detention centres in Dohuk to assure that all prisoners and those on custody at detention centre have legal representation.