The promotion campaign for free legal aid in Serbia, titled “You have the right!”, was unveiled to the local media and the public in Niš. This campaign is part of the project activities of the “Facility Supporting Rule of Law in Serbia,” co-financed by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ. It was jointly initiated and developed in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government of the Republic of Serbia. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the free legal aid mechanism.

The Law on Free Legal Aid was enacted in 2019 with the objective of ensuring access to justice and legal protection for every individual, particularly the most vulnerable citizens. Despite the establishment of the free legal aid system at the end of 2019, there is still a lack of awareness among citizens about their right to free legal aid, as well as several shortcomings in the implementation of the law.

The “You have the right!” campaign will be implemented in phases over an extended period. It will primarily focus on local self-government units where the right to free legal aid can be exercised under the law. Additionally, efforts will be made to enhance capacities through field training sessions for officials responsible for budgeting and approving applications.