2. What can the people do?

By people here is meant the organizations, including NGOs and concerned individuals. We particularly mean the human rights NGOs for which legal system issues have a very direct importance.

Two lines of action can be undertaken:

(a) Getting to know the government plans for reforms

(b) Making suggestions and influencing the process of reforms; monitoring the reform process

(a) Getting to know the government plans for reforms

This can be done in the following ways:

• Collect all news items relating to this issue and any other information and get a good idea of how far the government has proceeded on this matter; what plans does it already have?
• Contact the ministry concerned - Ministry of Justice - and let them know your concern and your wish to have detailed information on what are the proposed reforms and at what stage the reforms have proceeded.
• Get to know the implementing officers of the reform programmes and request that you be kept informed of all the developments.
• Let the government know your own suggestions for reforms and what you think are the most important reforms that must receive priority.
• Help to initiate a public debate on the issue; this way more people will engage the government on a public discussion.
• Continue above mentioned activities on a regular basis.

(b) Making suggestions and influencing the process of reforms; monitoring the reform process

Identify the areas of reforms that you think are essential and urgent;

(for reference, see the 'Recommendations ...' which had been developed at a previous workshop of AHRC and Vigil Lanka Movement, given in Lesson 03)

The main areas of peoples' frustrations with the legal system are quite well known:

• The extraordinary delays in bringing cases to court, which are in fact shameful in terms of modern circumstances;
• Impunity enjoyed by powerful persons and state officers;
• Lack of procedures to implement basic rights;
• The laws which are only in the book but not implemented;
• Extra-ordinary delays in implementing orders of courts and tribunals;
• Lack of access to laws by the poor;
• Lack of implementation of new laws relating to torture, the rights of children and women;
• Absence of gender sensitivity throughout the system;
• Race and caste discrimination within the system.

Regarding these commonly felt problems, there are many reflections and comments, which can easily be found in the local publications (such as newspapers), and day to day conversations of the people. If these things are collected and presented properly there will be sufficient material on which many detailed recommendations can be made.

The following activities can be undertaken:

• Start workshops and other discussions for the purpose of identifying commonly felt problems and suggestions for changes.
• Form working committees at various levels to work on these issues.
• Use every form of media to conduct this debate, to achieve clarity of ideas and to spread those ideas.
• Influence trade unions, political parties, other social organizations, religious organizations, to take interest in the matter.
• Use posters, pictures and other means to attract attention to this issue.