{"id":3517,"date":"2022-03-14T08:06:12","date_gmt":"2022-03-14T08:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nglhrc.com\/?page_id=3517"},"modified":"2023-09-07T13:58:49","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T13:58:49","slug":"legal-aid-centre","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nglhrc.com\/legal-aid-centre\/","title":{"rendered":"Legal Aid Centre"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” bg_image=”4086″ bg_position=”left top” background_image_loading=”default” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”4″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” bg_color=”#ffffff” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”2%” constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”2%” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” class=”nglhrc” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=”” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ gradient_direction=”left_t_to_right_b” overlay_strength=”1″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Legal Aid Centre” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]In March 2013, we officially began our work and opened the doors to Kenya’s first public legal aid clinic for sexual and gender minorities. It was the first of its kind in Kenya, following a study that highlighted the punitive criminal laws against consensual same-sex\/gender intimacy. Since then, the Commission has sought to provide a coordinated national legal response mechanism for Kenya\u2019s LGBTQ+ community, across every city, town, rural area, and county.
\nSpecific activities carried out under the Legal Aid Centre include:[\/vc_column_text][toggles style=”default”][toggle color=”Default” heading_tag=”default” title=”Legal Aid”][vc_column_text]The Centre responds to and seeks redress to violations against all persons on ground of their sexual orientation and\/or gender identity whether real or imputed. Our clinic currently serves 500-700 clients a year. We pride ourselves in having created a national legal aid response mechanism, and continue to receive cases in the hundreds annually.<\/p>\n

Since its inception, the legal aid clinic has received and responded to approximately 3700+ cases of human rights violations fuelled by one\u2019s real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics. The nature of the cases vary from blackmail and extortion, eviction, unlawful dismissal from employment, physical assault, corrective rape, arbitrary arrests, discrimination and stigma omong other cases elucidated in our annual legal aid reports.<\/p>\n

At the legal aid centre, we continue to provide support to LGBTIQ individuals who are victims of discrimination or crimes based on their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. The Legal aid centre equally offers direct representation, legal opinions\/advice, accompanying clients to police stations, assisting in drafting and executing legal instruments, rapid response, psycho-social support, alternative dispute resolution among other services upon our constituents’ requests within the scope of our mandate.<\/p>\n

The Commission is recognized nationwide as the go-to organisation for legal assistance for LGBTQIA+ in contact or conflict with the law. With the aid of partner organisations, CSOs and NHRIs across the country the legal aid centre has been able to offer the various services and requests received as well as legal redress to our constituents. Further when the pandemic hit in 2020, the legal aid centre revolutionised to operate virtually and include a psychology department as part of the services offered at the centre.<\/p>\n

The legal aid centre equally takes pride in empowering our constituents on basic legal knowledge, safety and security and the importance of reporting cases of violence to the authorities to get justice. This has been achieved through a series of civic education forums conducted with our constituents across the country, sharing of IEC materials and videos on various matters on social media and our newsletter.[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][toggle color=”Default” heading_tag=”default” title=”Community Outreach”][vc_column_text]Beginning in late 2017, our Legal Aid Clinic has been taking its services to communities that may have less accessibility to our services. This outreach initiative has increased reporting of justice challenges and data collection on violations facing the LGBTIQ community. The Clinic being purely based in Nairobi for walk-in clients and virtually via email, social media and telephone calls through our toll-free lines.<\/p>\n

We are cognizant of the fact that not all our constituents are able to access our services through digital channels. This has since enabled us to conduct community outreaches in various parts of the country to ensure that we uphold our mandate of ensuring access to justice to all LGBTQIA+ Kenyans, refugees and asylum seekers in contact or conflict with the law. We have conducted these outreaches in Kisumu, Nakuru, Kilifi, and Kisii among other counties in Kenya.[\/vc_column_text][\/toggle][\/toggles][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” sticky_content=”true” sticky_content_functionality=”css” sticky_content_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” zindex=”100″ advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” gradient_type=”default” offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][image_with_animation image_url=”3545″ image_size=”custom” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”150%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” bg_color=”#000000″ scene_position=”center” top_padding=”8%” bottom_padding=”3%” text_color=”light” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”NGLHRC’s legal aid centre has been providing daily free legal aid to LGBTIQ persons in Kenya since 2013. We have responded to over 3,700 cases since we began the program, establishing ourselves as the go-to organisation for LGBTIQ legal aid.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:24|text_align:center|line_height:1.5″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”2%” constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”2%” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” class=”nglist” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_color=”#760088″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_divider_height=”200″ bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=”mountains”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Through our legal aid program, we engage in:[\/vc_column_text]

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