First, in that it is carried out in the interests of:
vulnerable people – the poor, the unemployed, the elderly, minors, people with disabilities, single women, single mothers, widows, members of single-parent, large and dysfunctional families, orphans, people with severe and incurable diseases, residents of remote villages, refugees from Syria and Ukraine, migrants and all others who have difficulty relying on their own strength and who need special support;
People who are persecuted because of their social and/or political position;
people whose fundamental rights have been grossly violated and who have been unjustly treated.
Second, legal assistance from community-based organizations is different from that provided by lawyers for a fee. In community-based organizations, it is a component of human rights advocacy. We focus in particular on violations of basic human rights resulting from official arbitrariness and unjust treatment. The violation of fundamental rights or freedoms is always a large-scale problem, even if it affects one person. Rights and freedoms are common goods, should be enjoyed by all and should be inviolable for everyone. The challenge for human rights organizations is to prevent violators from undermining rights and to prevent violations from becoming an everyday occurrence. In providing assistance, we are first and foremost about advancing human rights.
Third, they focus on empowering vulnerable people by helping them overcome circumstances that render them defenseless. Vulnerability often leads to rights violations, so it is important that vulnerable people are able to work with community workers to correct rights violations and hold perpetrators accountable. By participating in the protection of their rights, vulnerable people can gain the necessary experience that will enable them in the future to independently stand up for their rights and help other people by passing on this experience.
Fourth, they draw attention to abuses that authorities refuse to recognize and address.
Fifth, employees of public organizations guarantee equal treatment and equal conditions for assistance to each person who applies. We advocate the principle of equality on the part of other people, authorities, and political representatives and assist in overcoming unequal and unfair treatment.
Sixthly, NGOs always provide assistance free of charge. This is possible thanks to the financial support of partner organizations we trust (e.g., international organizations that promote and protect human rights in different parts of the world) or through volunteer work.