HIV-RELATED LEGAL SERVICE MODELS
Toolkit: Scaling Up HIV-Related Legal Services
AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) and HIV/AIDS Legal Services Alliance Inc. (HALSA), United States of America In the 1990s, APLA provided outreach services to community-based organizations whose clients were primarily drawn from ethnic minorities. Training was held with the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Los Angeles. Following training, volunteer lawyers provided services to clients at outreach locations. APLA joined with the AIDS Service Center, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, the Los Angeles County Bar Association and Public Counsel to create the HIV/AIDS Legal Services Alliance. These HIV and legal organizations provide a unified service, which employs an outreach attorney (see http://www.halsaservices.org).
Photo credit: UNAIDS/O.O’Hanlon
Model 5. HIV LEGAL SERVICES INTEGRATED INTO AN ORGANIZATION WITH A BROADER HUMAN RIGHTS FOCUS This model involves integration of legal services in a nongovernmental organization, community-based organization or faith-based organization that advocates on a range of social issues, including HIV (e.g. women’s rights and youth rights). It provides an effective way of linking HIV legal services to advocacy, media relations, research, fundraising and campaigning functions. This model recognizes the interconnectedness of all human rights issues. Examples include the following: Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Educational Trust, Zimbabwe This service focuses on the needs and rights of women, including those affected by HIV. Activities include research, advocacy for policy and law reform, legal rights education and training, as well as legal advice and assistance services (see http://www.wlsa.org.zm/profile.htm). Legal Assistance Centre, Namibia The Legal Assistance Centre is a public interest law firm. It has four areas of work: the Human Rights and Constitutional Unit; the Gender Research and Advocacy Project; the Land, Environment and Development Project; and the AIDS Law Unit (see http://www.lac.org.na). Lawyers Collective, India The Lawyers Collective operates its HIV-related legal services through an HIV/AIDS Unit. The Lawyers Collective comprises lawyers, law students and human rights activists and was created to provide expert legal assistance to the underprivileged, especially women and children, workers in the unorganized sector and other members of marginalized groups. In addition to the HIV/AIDS Unit, the Lawyers Collective implements a Women’s Rights Initiative, a Civil Rights Initiative and a Tobacco Control Initiative (see http://www.lawyerscollective.org).
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