[{"bbox": [157, 151, 1073, 229], "category": "Text", "text": "The **Judiciary** plays a crucial role in access to justice as it has jurisdiction over all issues of judicial nature, however, support is needed especially in subordinate courts which handle the majority of the cases."}, {"bbox": [157, 242, 1074, 403], "category": "Text", "text": "The **Malawi Police Service** is the first point of contact for most of vulnerable people seeking justice. Continued support is required in training police prosecutors, investigators and Victim Support Unit (VSU) officers regarding crimes against women and children, plea bargaining and victims' rights. Existing accountability mechanisms and departments responsible for their implementation (as the Professional Standard Unit (PSU) and the Independent Complaints Commission) also need technical support to fulfil their mandate."}, {"bbox": [157, 414, 1074, 575], "category": "Text", "text": "Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) was established as an independent body under the Legal Aid Act (2010) and plays a significant role in access to justice by providing legal aid to the vulnerable and facilitating access to the formal justice system. However, it is severely underfunded and under-resourced with 25 lawyers and 36 paralegals serving the entire country. LAB is currently championing Paralegal reform process to allow paralegals to represent vulnerable people in lower courts. Support will be needed to generally increase accessibility of legal aid services across the country."}, {"bbox": [157, 586, 1075, 800], "category": "Text", "text": "Malawi Prison Services' (MPS) mandate is to house, detain and rehabilitate persons sentenced to imprisonment in whatever form such imprisonment may take. The main challenge is the congestion of the prisons, which presently house some 18,000 prisoners against a capacity of 7,000. This congestion is at times caused by high levels of un-sentenced prisoners and excessive pre-trial detention. A draft Prison Bill introducing a parole system, that would systemically reduce overcrowding, is to be tabled in Parliament. Prisons will require support for the implementation of the parole system and other measures aiming at decongestion and support to prisoners' reintegration in the society."}, {"bbox": [157, 811, 1075, 971], "category": "Text", "text": "The **Malawi Human Rights Commission** (MHRC) is a key player when it comes to holding government to account for its commitments under international instruments as well as holding duty bearers to account for the promotion and protection of human rights. While the MHRC has done well, also with EU support. When it comes to human rights education and monitoring of compliance with international instruments, its capacity to investigate and deal with complaints and to hold public inquiries is severely constrained by its limited budget."}, {"bbox": [157, 982, 1075, 1116], "category": "Text", "text": "The constitutional and independent **Office of the Ombudsman (OoO)** is tasked with investigating all cases of injustice. The office has been crucial to providing access to justice for vulnerable people in both rural and urban areas under the Chilungamo Programme. Due to the nature of the investigations of the OoO support is required to ensure that the office is empowered and is able to conduct its investigations independently."}, {"bbox": [157, 1127, 1075, 1206], "category": "Text", "text": "**Civil society organisations (CSOs)**, who are key players in domestic accountability and access to justice will contribute to the Action's objectives through the provision of paralegal and mediation services."}, {"bbox": [147, 1247, 654, 1281], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION"}, {"bbox": [162, 1310, 569, 1342], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### 3.1. Objectives and Expected Outputs"}, {"bbox": [157, 1351, 1074, 1406], "category": "Text", "text": "The **Overall Objective (Impact)** of this Action is to improve humane and effective delivery of justice for all, especially those living in marginalised and most vulnerable situations."}, {"bbox": [157, 1431, 699, 1459], "category": "Text", "text": "The **Specific Objectives (Outcomes)** of this Action are to:"}, {"bbox": [157, 1459, 1033, 1486], "category": "Text", "text": "* **SO1:** Enhance effectiveness legal and coordination frameworks of the key justice institutions"}, {"bbox": [157, 1486, 1074, 1536], "category": "Text", "text": "* **SO2:** Improve access to justice for all, especially for the population living in the most vulnerable situations and women"}, {"bbox": [976, 1663, 1082, 1688], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 23"}]