Community Paralegal and Village Mediation Programme (CPVMP)

Community Paralegal and Village Mediation Programme (CPVMP)

Community Paralegal and Village Mediation Programme (CPVMP) is being implemented by CIRDDOC under Component 2.3 of the Justice for All (J4A) programme funded by DfID. The purpose of this intervention is to strengthen the capacity of the justice sector to deliver legal aid to citizens, especially those from poor and vulnerable groups, including women. The legal aid project embraces the provision of mediation services and legal information in line with the definition of legal aid as expressed in the Lilongwe Declaration 2004 and adopted in the draft UN Principles

Specifically, the project is not only providing affordable and accessible justice, equitable and speedy resolution of disputes through effective legal aid services which are accessible by poor people, especially women, it is also building capacity of organizations to manage disputes brought by poor people and thereby minimize risks of civil disputes escalating and creating disharmony or becoming criminalized. Furthermore, it is building awareness and understanding of, as well as respect for, citizens’ rights in particular women’s rights and rebuilding confidence of Nigerians in their justice systems. The CPVMP disseminates information and guidance on best practice and lessons learned from this intervention so as to raise the bar in standards of training and practice of legal aid and to encourage replication in other communities/states.