IDLO recently launched a handbook for Sewalanka that will assist with training community members on legal matters.

In the last edition of our newsletter we reported that Sewalanka has, together with the International Development Law Organisation (ILDO), began an initiative to increase awareness of the law and legal matters among community-based organisations (CBOs).

A pronounced lack of awareness of the law has been a major impediment to the activities of CBOs, particularly those involved in entrepreneurial activities.

By communicating with over 500 CBOs, Sewalanka staff were able to identify their typical legal requirements and together with IDLO prepared a basic legal awareness program catering specifically to the needs of these communities.

The program consists of basic training in law, especially those sections of the law dealing with taxation, contracts, land, labor and the environment, which were seen to be most relevant to rural communities.

By providing community leaders with a direct understanding of the law and the capacity to educate others it is hoped the project will remain sustainable.

To facilitate this training process, IDLO recently published a handbook which provides an overview of legal procedures and principals as well as the details of major acts such as the registration of companies act, birth and death legislation, and water rights and irrigation law.

The handbook is to be distributed amongst Sewalanka staff to assist in training and will also serve the communities as a reference tool where legal matters are concerned. The handbook which is currently in English will, it is hoped, equip communities with a working knowledge of the law and the confidence to deal with future legal challenges.