Supreme Court Delegation to Visit Australia to Study Legal Aids

Cate Sumner (second right) explaining what can be explored from the visit to Australia for the development of Indonesian legal aid posts in courts.

Jakarta | badilag.net/english

The Indonesian Supreme Court delegation is planning to visit Australia in early July to study how legal aids are implemented in Australian courts. The visit, which is sponsored by IAJPT (Indonesia Australia Justice Program-Transition) under AusAID, will also involve other institutions such as legal aid centers, Bappenas (The National Planning Agency), and advocate organization.

The delegation from Supreme Court consists of representatives from General Courts (Badilum) and Religious Courts (Badilag). Badilum and Badilag are currently formulating guidelines for legal aids that will be used as a manual for establishing legal aid post (Posbakum) in General and Religious Courts across the country.

“We would like to assist General and Religious Courts in finalizing the guidelines drafts,” IAJPT adviser, Cate Sumner said on Wednesday (9/6/2010) in Pre-Departure Briefing at Badilag office.

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Cate further said participants of this comparative study will observe numerous aspects of legal aids in Australia, mainly on management and monitoring. Legal aid management is concerned with relationship between court and justice seekers. Monitoring on the use of the budget is another serious concern since legal aid involves a number of parties.

“We will observe how Australia develops legal aid centers in courts,” said Cate.

DG of Badilag Wahyu Widiana instructed participants of the comparative study to be well prepared in order that the visit to Australia will give as many benefits for Indonesian courts and justice seekers.