The 3rd meeting of the Local Co-ordination Body for the implementation of the Law on Free Legal Aid, took place at the Faculty of Law - University of "Goce Delcev" in Shtip to discuss the progress and important challenges regarding the access to justice for the local community, with special focus on vulnerable groups.

Organised in the framework of the continuous support that EU and Council of Europe are providing to improve the Free Legal Aid services for the citizens of North Macedonia, the event gathered around 17 participants from the key institutions in the field of free legal aid including the Ministry of Justice’s Regional Office in Shtip, members of the local Bar community (lawyers), local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Center for Social Work in Stip, Police, Shtip Basic Court and the Legal Clinic authorised for providing free legal aid.

The members of the LCB-Shtip had the opportunity to be familiarized with the work of the Legal Clinic in Shtip which is authorsied for providing primary legal aid to clients. The Head of the Legal Clinic, Ms Milica Shutova, stressed the openness for cooperation and coordination with the other local stakeholders in providing free legal aid for the people in need. She presented the work of the Clinic and its students on real cases, thus explaining the benefits for both: the people that are facing real legal problems and the students that are benefiting in their learning process by practicing law.

The members of the LCB-Shtip were informed about the recommendations adopted at the National Co-ordination Body and further discussed the need for changes in the Law on Free Legal Aid. During the meeting, the discussion was focused also on the access to justice for children, undocumented people, and victims of gender-based and domestic violence.

The Local Co-ordination Body will continue its work and commitment towards achieving better co-ordination and communication among the main actors in the Free Legal Aid system in the local community.

The action “Towards a consolidated and more efficient Free Legal Aid (FLA) system in North Macedonia” is part from the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye III”, a joint European Union and Council of Europe programme implemented by the Council of Europe.