Strengthening Access to Justice: Key Takeaways from the BASL Human Rights Oration

The inaugural Human Rights Oration, organized by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) Human Rights Committee in partnership with the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA), featured Supreme Court of India Senior Most Judge Justice Surya Kant as the keynote speaker. The event aimed to promote dialogue on justice, inclusivity, and the rule of law in Sri Lanka. Justice Kant discussed India's pioneering model of legal aid and its constitutional and ethical foundations, highlighting the importance of access to justice for marginalized and vulnerable communities.

Key Takeaways:

• India's National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has a three-tiered structure comprising 37 State Legal Services Authorities, 709 District Authorities, and over 2,000 Sub-Divisional Committees, supported by more than 50,000 trained paralegal volunteers.
• Landmark Indian cases such as Hussainara Khatoon, NALSA v. Union of India, and Delhi Domestic Workers and Widows of Wundavan cases, which advanced victim-centred justice and recognized the right to free legal representation for undertrial prisoners.
• Justice Kant emphasized the importance of legal aid as a philosophy of justice essential for democracy, equality, and human dignity, rather than charity.
• Bar Association of Sri Lanka President Rajeev Amarasuriya stressed that justice must be accessible to every citizen, especially marginalized and vulnerable communities, and urged collective action to strengthen access to justice.
• The event marked the beginning of an annual tradition to promote dialogue on justice, inclusivity, and the rule of law in Sri Lanka, reaffirming the Commonwealth's shared values of education and collaboration.
• Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka Chairman V. Puvitharan, PC, highlighted the Commission's work in expanding access to justice for women, children, the elderly, and marginalized groups.

Sources:

• The article does not provide specific information about the date when the event took place.
• The article mentions the event was organized by the BASL Human Rights Committee in partnership with CLEA.
• Justice Surya Kant's bio and professional affiliations as per the original text.

Statistics:

• 37 State Legal Services Authorities in India's National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) structure.
• 709 District Authorities in India's National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) structure.
• 2,000 Sub-Divisional Committees in India's National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) structure.
• More than 50,000 trained paralegal volunteers in India's National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) structure.
• Over 50,000 cases related to women, children, the elderly, and marginalized groups supported by the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka.
• More than 709 District Authorities in India's National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) structure.