Exploring Legal Aid Mechanisms for Survivors of Sexual Violence: Lessons from South Asia

The South Asian Movement for Accessing Justice (SAMAJ) presents this regional report on legal aid systems in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The 2021 report, Sexual Violence in South Asia: Legal and Other Barriers to Justice for Survivors, co-authored by Equality Now and Dignity Alliance, revealed that sexual violence laws across the region are often inadequate and poorly implemented.

This regional report on legal aid highlights how survivors of sexual violence access legal aid, where gaps remain, and what solutions are emerging across South Asia.

What’s inside the report?

• Legal analysis across four countries: An overview of State-run legal aid frameworks and their alignment with international human rights standards.
  
• Insights from implementation: Findings from consultations with survivors, paralegals, legal aid providers, and civil society organisations.
  
• Examples of promising models: Coordinated services, legal aid panels, and community partnerships that show potential for scaling.
  
• Recommendations for governments: Actions to strengthen legal aid laws, improve delivery, expand support for marginalised groups, and increase sustainable investment.
  

Who’s it for?

• Government ministries, policymakers, and national legal aid authorities
  
• Judiciary, law enforcement, and legal aid practitioners
  
• Civil society organisations and survivor support networks
  
• Researchers, advocates, and donors working on access to justice and gender equality
  

Key Findings:

• Legal aid exists, but survivors face barriers: Many survivors struggle with low awareness, poor implementation, and a lack of trauma-sensitive services.
  
• Marginalized groups remain underserved: Legal aid systems often overlook the needs of persons with disabilities, and women and girls from marginalized communities and minority groups.
  
• Crisis and emergency response is limited: Few legal aid programmes are equipped to respond during humanitarian crises, pandemics, or conflicts.
  
• Good practices can be scaled: Successful examples exist but remain scattered and underfunded.
  
• Urgent investment is needed: More funding, smarter resource allocation, and stronger partnerships are critical for sustainable impact.
  
• Low public awareness hinders access: Without effective outreach, survivors are unable to claim the legal aid rights guaranteed to them.
  

Survivors deserve legal systems that are accessible, inclusive, and built for justice,  not just in law, but in practice.

Read the press release here.