Empowering Through Justice Community-Based Legal Aid and Rights Awareness in Tutong District, Brunei Darussalam
Keywords:
legal aid, access to justice, community paralegals, rights awareness, Islamic law, Brunei DarussalamAbstract
This community service initiative addresses critical legal literacy and access to justice gaps affecting marginalized communities in Tutong District, Brunei Darussalam. The eighteen-month program provided comprehensive legal aid services including rights awareness education, legal consultation clinics, dispute mediation support, and advocacy assistance to 423 households from low-income and indigenous Dusun communities facing legal challenges. Utilizing community paralegal approaches and culturally sensitive methodologies respecting Brunei's Islamic legal framework and Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) philosophy, the intervention combined educational workshops on rights and legal processes, accessible legal consultation services, community mediation training, and systemic advocacy addressing structural barriers to justice. Results demonstrated significant improvements in legal literacy, with 87 percent of participants developing functional understanding of their rights and legal remedies, 156 legal issues successfully resolved through intervention, and measurable increases in community capacity for independent legal problem-solving. The program established sustainable community legal support structures bridging formal legal systems and community justice mechanisms. This initiative offers replicable models for enhancing access to justice in Islamic legal contexts where community-based approaches complement formal legal institutions.
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