Project Name: Provision of Free Legal Aid Services to Displaced Afghan Nationals.
Overview:
Society for Human Rights and Prisoners’ Aid (SHARP), in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), is implementing its legal aid initiative for displaced Afghan nationals (Afghan Citizen Cards holders) from November 2023. This project aims to provide critical legal assistance and protection while enhancing coordination with law and justice actors.
Timeline: Phases I and II have been successfully completed, and the extension of Phase II is currently being implemented, running from 1st May to December 2025
Beneficiaries: Displaced Afghan Nationals (Afghan Citizen Cards holders)
Location: Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Attock
Core Activities:
Community Engagement: Broad-Based Community Meetings (BBCMs) will be conducted to engage Afghan communities, raise awareness, and identify volunteers. Community-Based Committees (CBCs) with gender-balanced representation will be established to serve as community focal points.
Legal Camps: Legal camps will be organized to raise awareness of legal rights and protections, where SHARP’s legal teams will provide on-the-spot legal advice and support.
Legal Counselling and Aid: Free legal advice and counselling services will be offered to Afghan refugees through walk-ins, outreach, and helpline support.
Police Station Visits: Regular visits to police stations—and detention facilities, where feasible—will be conducted to advocate for detained Afghan nationals and ensure timely legal follow-up.
Coordination and Advocacy: Liaison workshops will be held with government departments, NGOs, Bar Associations, and other relevant actors to strengthen coordination and referral pathways.
Information Dissemination: IEC materials (flyers, posters, helpline cards, etc.) in local languages will be developed and distributed to increase awareness of legal services and complaint mechanisms.
UN Day Celebrations: Thematic events will be organized to highlight key human rights issues and engage Afghan communities through inclusive, rights-based activities.
Capacity Building – Law & Justice Actors: Targeted workshops will be conducted for police, judiciary, social services, and refugee affairs officials to enhance understanding and improve service delivery for Afghan nationals.
Staff Development: A comprehensive training plan will be implemented for SHARP and IOM project staff, including induction sessions, technical workshops, and a lessons-learned review to support continuous improvement and adaptive learning.
