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.

Exploring legal aid mechanisms for survivors of sexual violence: Lessons from South Asia

What’s inside the report?