protection of the child, and Articles 58, 59, 60 of the Law No 83/2015 establishing the Bar Association in Rwanda and determining its organization and functioning. The new developments however are that the draft law on legal aid; legal aid fund and policy are key projects in the pipeline. 59. During the 11th National Leadership Retreat in 2014, it was resolved that the “Abunzi” need to be better empowered to reduce on the backlog in ordinary courts. This has benefited most people to access justice who would otherwise be unable to afford legal services in ordinary courts. Since the year 2009 the Ministry of Justice organizes and coordinates activities of providing legal aid for a week long in all districts of the country annually. The purpose is to raise awareness and provide direct legal aid. 60. Achievements of the legal aid weeks from 2009-2015 include: 73,488 indigent and vulnerable people were given legal information, advice and mediation; 1,036 minors in conflict with the law were assisted; 9, 367 detainees and prisoners were provided with different legal services on their individuals cases; 16,639 Gacaca judgements were enforced; 22 pregnant and nursing women in prison were assisted; Assistance was provided in all 14 prisons of the country; legal advice was given in all 30 Districts and 416 sectors; As a result of legal aid week collaboration between legal aid providers and local authorities; local authorities now work with both State and non-State legal aid providers to find solutions to (legal) problems of the population has been strengthened. 61. The Government of Rwanda initiated Access to Justice Bureaus (AJB) – popularly known as Maisons d’accès à la Justice (MAJ) in French in 2007. These bureaus serve as a first point of orientation for the general public; sensitize population on their human rights; provide general legal aid services; assist prisoners and provide legal training to Abunzi among others. Currently, every district has three MAJ personnel that particularly give legal aid to the population. As a result, this has relatively increased efficiency, performance, transparency of the judicial system, and improvement of public access to justice. Furthermore, among the staff in the Access to Justice Office (MAJ), one is a GBV and Child focal person to facilitate access to justice to women victims of gender based violence. Page 24 of 105