Professionals from abroad attend Taiwan forum on legal assistance

        Several foreign participants took part in the 2005 International Forum on Legal Aid Oct. 15-17. Taiwan's Legal Aid Foundation (LAF), which organized the forum, was established just over a year ago to provide legal assistance to those who are in need but cannot afford the high costs of litigation and legal fees. The LAF now has 19 offices nationwide.

        Financed by the Judicial Yuan and various community organizations, the LAF has received a reported 17,800 requests for legal aid, of which 7,640 have been approved. Such large demand for legal aid prompted the group to organize the international forum so that Taiwanese pro-bono lawyers might learn from their foreign counterparts.

        Taiwan's Legal Aid Act makes the government responsible for offering legal help to the disadvantaged. It was passed by the Legislature Jan. 7, 2004, thanks largely to the lobbying efforts of the private Judicial Reform Foundation, the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, the Taipei Bar Association and Judicial Yuan President Weng Yueh-sheng, who was quoted in a recent newspaper story as saying that the legal aid system is aimed at assisting disadvantaged people and foreign laborers.

        The forum was attended by a reported 24 professionals in the legal profession from 17 countries. This year's discussions were focused on the basic elements of a workable legal-aid system and the challenges facing legal aid in the 21st century.

        Weng said in his closing remarks that the forum heralds the beginning of international legal-aid cooperation. He said he hopes to see Taiwan's legal-aid system strengthened through many more such exchanges and collaboration with the international community.