Legal Assistance Centre (LAC)

Regions: Namibie
Website: www.lac.org.na

The Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) is a public interest law firm based in Windhoek, Namibia. Its mission statement is as follows: We, the Legal Assistance Centre, being a public interest law centre, collectively strive to make the law accessible to those with the least access, through education, law reform, research, litigation, legal advice, representation and lobbying, with the ultimate aim of creating and maintaining a human rights culture in Namibia. The LAC’s main objective is to protect the human rights of all Namibians. It is the only organisation of its kind in Namibia. It is funded primarily by national and international donor organisations. Its work is supervised by the Legal Assistance Trust, whose trustees include legal practitioners, other professionals and community leaders. It works in five broad areas:

•   Litigation
•   Information and Advice
•   Education and Training
•   Research
•   Law Reform and Advocacy

In the area of citizenship and immigration, the LAC has assisted a number of clients to secure their legal status in Namibia.  Changes to the law and the discord between policy and practice often require clarity from the courts to ensure that the balance between the rights of the individual and the sovereignty of the state is respected in accordance with international human rights practice.