Wrapping up Legal Empowerment
We’ve come to the last few days of our fellowship here in Serbia. This week has been one large review. As I stated in my last blog, our final two submissions have revolved around condensing our Global Legal Empowerment (LE) Database and formulating recommendations.

The purpose of condensing the original database was to extract projects that were purely LE initiatives. That is to say, extract projects that encompass all four pillars of LE. However, given that Making the Law Work for Everyone, the Commission’s final report, was only released on 3 June 2008, LE is a relatively new area of interest. This offers UNDP Serbia the opportunity to be a pioneer in the field and guide the government to embrace more inclusive and human rights oriented policies. With that said, there is still a great deal to be learned from other projects that address elements of legal empowerment. It has been our aim to draw from both the commission's report and global projects to help generate a starting point.

In order to formulate our recommendations we drew upon project patterns and successes of other countries in each pillar of LE. We coupled that with our limited knowledge of the Serbian system and put forth a number of strategies that would advance the rights of vulnerable groups, if tailored to the specific needs of the local context in which they are to be implemented. If there is one thing that I have learned to appreciate most, it is that legal empowerment is not a one stop shop. No one project, no single policy reform and no pillar can stand alone. Nor can the pillars be implemented without assessing the local needs of the country. If legal empowerment can ever stand a chance there must be commitment toward a common goal and projects must be adaptable to meet needs of stakeholders. All in all, embarking on a LE initiative is a complex and long-term commitment. With the right attitude, the ability to sustain partnerships, and the willingness to support local needs and goals, it is a challenge worth taking.

Take off…
The past three months have just flown by. It feels as though I have just gotten used to my surroundings, and here we are, ready to head home. I have taken away a great deal from my time in Serbia. I have expanded my knowledge on specific international legal topics. I have learned about a new country, its history, its culture and its people. Lastly, I have learned about myself and how I have changed. What an invaluable experience ☺