My Perfect Country: Legal Advice in Uganda
How a group of legal experts revolutionised Uganda's legal system through social media.
Fi Glover looks at how communities in Uganda have revolutionised the justice system by taking matters into their own hands.
The complexity of the law system in Uganda can be a tough one to follow – and causes particular difficulties for its residents. Solving that problem are the Barefoot Lawyers. In 2012, a technically competent group of legal experts began providing legal advice through social media to anyone who requested it. And it is now an award-winning, non-profit social enterprise assisting 300,000 people every month and answering around 50 enquiries per day. A particular achievement came in winning a sexual assault case for a twelve-year-old girl.
Our local reporter delves into the inner workings of the legal group to hear why they wanted to help and how they have made it work. They hear from the individuals whose lives have been changed as a result – as well as how the country’s official legal system are responding to the group.
Is a DIY law system the basis for a perfect country? Presenter Fi Glover, entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox, professor Henrietta Moore of the Institute for Global prosperity and special studio guests – give their verdict.
(Photo: Gerald Abila, the Managing Director of Barefoot Lawyers, at his office in Kampala. Credit: Isaac Kasamani/AFP/Getty Images)
Last on
Clip
-
Barefoot Law's model for access to justice
Duration: 02:36
Broadcasts
- Thu 10 Mar 2016 02:06GMTÂ鶹Éç World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Thu 10 Mar 2016 03:06GMTÂ鶹Éç World Service Online, East Asia & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Thu 10 Mar 2016 04:06GMTÂ鶹Éç World Service South Asia
- Thu 10 Mar 2016 05:06GMTÂ鶹Éç World Service Australasia
- Thu 10 Mar 2016 07:06GMTÂ鶹Éç World Service East and Southern Africa
- Thu 10 Mar 2016 13:06GMTÂ鶹Éç World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Thu 10 Mar 2016 14:06GMTÂ鶹Éç World Service East and Southern Africa, West and Central Africa, Europe and the Middle East, South Asia & East Asia only
- Thu 10 Mar 2016 20:06GMTÂ鶹Éç World Service Online, Americas and the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Thu 10 Mar 2016 21:06GMTÂ鶹Éç World Service Australasia, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa only
- Sun 13 Mar 2016 05:32GMTÂ鶹Éç World Service except News Internet
- Sun 13 Mar 2016 10:06GMTÂ鶹Éç World Service except News Internet
Features: Ideas And Opinions For My Perfect Country
The big ideas on how to build a perfect country
What can digital technology do for your country?
Technology offers many potential futures, but how can those be beneficial for everyone?
Podcast
-
The Compass
With ideas too big for a single episode, The Compass presents mini-series about society