Community-based paralegals to build just societies: insights from a legal empowerment project in Pakistan.

The provision of rule of law and justice contributes to the building of equitable, inclusive, and economically prosperous societies. However, mere legal protection of the rights of the people in developing societies remains insufficient to ensure due protections guaranteed by the law. This study examines the impact of a legal empowerment project in the two districts of rural Punjab in Pakistan through key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The findings show that the project leads to awareness and fulfilment of rights, financial empowerment, agency development, especially of women, and reduction of oppression, exploitation, and injustice. It plays a significant role in building inclusive and sustainable societies where accountable public services are available and accessible to all without discrimination. This study emphasizes how the state including public and private administrative bodies should instead of oppressing, exploiting, or ignoring the needy masses create opportunities for them and develop their set of capabilities. This multidimensional paralegal assistance model rooted in existing community-based structures and support is scalable and adaptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]