Legal help for the disadvantaged people has become more affordable
in the past five years, the Ministry of Justice said.
About 2,207 institutions have been established nationwide to
provide legal services to the poor, disabled and elderly at no cost
or at discounted rates.
The service is available to everyone at the provincial level, and
covers more than 84 percent of the country at the municipal level,
according to Duan Zhengkun, vice-minister of the Ministry of
Justice.
Duan said, in the past five years, the number of full-time
personnel in the legal aid field climbed to more than 7,000, half
of whom are professionals with lawyer certificates.
Duan said the purpose of the legal aid is to ensure the
disadvantaged know their legal rights.
"Our laws should defend the legitimate interests of every citizen
indiscriminately." Duan said. "To build up democracy and enhance
human rights in our country, everyone should have his or her voice
heard."
He
added that, based on the past few years' experience, the ministry
will make more effort to offer legal services in the country's poor
areas.
(China
Daily October 27, 2001)