WHO WE ARE

The Legal Aid Forum (LAF) is Rwanda’s leading non-state provider of legal aid services. Established in 2006, We operate as a membership-based network comprising 38 national and international NGOs, professional associations, universities, legal aid clinics, and faith-based organizations.

We are dedicated to improving access to justice for indigent and vulnerable communities through the delivery of high-quality legal aid services. To ensure these services reach those who need them most, we implement a range of legal empowerment strategies, including mobile legal aid clinics, mass legal awareness activities in communities, and a dedicated legal aid call center.

Beyond service delivery, we carry out research and legal analysis to drive advocacy for legal and policy reforms. We also empower justice sector actors and human rights defenders with knowledge on legal frameworks, international standards, access to justice, human rights, and the rule of law.

Since 2014, we have served as the convener and chair of the Rwanda Civil Society Coalition on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), playing a key role in strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations to integrate and follow up on international human rights recommendations, ultimately contributing to improved human rights outcomes in Rwanda.

We are a founding member and serve as the host secretariat of the continent-wide African Centre of Excellence for Access to Justice.