A new division that deals directly with family legal issues such as maintenance, custody, divorce, and family protection orders has been created in the Public Solicitors office.
An office that has been in operation for almost 60 years, Public Solicitor Jim Wala Tamate says the creation of the Family Law and Special projects division was done due to the demand of legal aid services on the office.
These services have been previously provided under general civil cases but with the creation of the new division, a specialised team will deal directly with family law issues.
It will also provide equal access to justice for people living with disabilities, survivors and victims of all forms of discrimination, including HIV and AIDS and family and sexual violence.
Better referral pathways have also been created with partner agencies who deal with family law issues.
But the Public Solicitor says the challenge remains with manpower issues faced by the office.
“We are ready to help but we don’t have enough manpower,” Tamate says.
The Public Solicitor Office has provided legal aid since 1958. It currently has 65 lawyers and is based in 19 provinces. Only Jiwaka, Western Highlands and Hela do not have offices.
These three provinces are serviced through monthly circuits from Port Moresby based lawyers.
The launch of the division today also saw the launch of a first-of-its-kind pamphlets and posters in braille for the visually impaired.
An advocate for people living with disability, Ben Theodore, conveyed his gratitude, on behalf of the two million people who are living with disability, for making it possible for the visually impaired to understand the role of the office and the special division in particular.
“As a person who is also visually impaired, thank you very much for making those decisions to help everyone.”
He said the lawyers, through Public Solicitor’s Office, have transformed their mindset through the service that they provide.
“In a sense, we don’t just talk about inclusion, but we make inclusion real,” Theodore added.