PILnet Foundation Held the Fifth Annual “Pro Bono” Forum

On November 17-18, 2011, Tatev Matinyan, Coordinator of the Legal Department of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, participated in the fifth annual “Pro Bono” Forum organized in Germany by PILnet Foundation. The goal of the forum was to promote the culture of providing free legal assistance, specifically through consolidation of the cooperation between non-governmental organizations and advocates. 

At the “Organization Fair”, which was organized during the forum, the organizations presented the directions in which they are working and which opportunitiesthey were seeking out for further cooperation.

In particular, it was most effective when the lawyers and advocates, interested in a particular area would indicate further actions through individual conversations and discussions with the non-governmental organizations.

There were around 300 participants at the forum, from over 45 countries with representatives from non-governmental organizations, advocatory offices, bar associations, as well as legal clinics and higher educational institutions.

Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Justice, gave the opening speech, in which she stated, “Together we are on the same team, fighting for a common cause - equal access to justice is our driving force.”Andrzej Rzeplinski, President of the Constitutional Tribunal in Poland, and Axel Filges, Head of the German Federal Bar Council also made opening remarks.