About us

Legal Friends is a government registered, non-profit, volunteer organization formed to advocate social injustice to women and children who are trapped in the legal system, unable to fight for their own safety.

The organization was initiated in 2013 by a group of legal professionals who advocate and work towards the rights of women and children. From its inception, the organization has performed a wide range of community services towards the children and women who need attention in society.

Vision

Creating a lawful society consisting of a community of dignified women and children with affirmed rights, that contribute to sustainable development.

Mission

• Empowering women to be equal partners in dignity and development in a non-violent and
  discriminatory environment.
•  To produce well-nourished children with full opportunity for growth and development in a safe
  environment and to ensure their care and protection.
•  To raise awareness about the rights of women and children and to safeguard and promote these rights.
•  Provide institutional and legislative support to enable women and children to develop their full potential to achieve human rights.
•  To promote the social and economic empowerment of women through policies and programs

Our Role

• Provide legal counseling and legal support for women who are victims of domestic violence.
• Providing legal advice and legal assistance to those women and children seeking maintenance
  from their husband and / or father who is not in the custody of his wife and / or children.
• Help those women who wish to claim maintenance for themselves or for their children, with
  finding a decent livelihood or for those who need, introduce and refer to self-employment that
  suits their skills.
• Provide psychological counseling and personality development programs for children who are
  abused sexually.
• Representing and assisting people who otherwise would not have any help from the legal
  system.
• Provide police and legal system support to women and children to better understand how to
  cope with these problems.
• Programs to raise awareness of these conflicts and to make a positive difference in society.
• Helping abused young children with psychological support for reintegration into society.
• Conducting regular workshops for school children and women police officers throughout Sri
  Lanka.
• Conduct workshops and lectures on child abuse and drug prevention for school children to
  educate them on how to protect themselves and how to get help.
• Appearing before court on behalf of children who have been abused.
• Supporting children with education and other special needs.
• Organizing and facilitating workshops, seminars and discussions on child abuse prevention.
• Awareness on children’s rights to be protected from abuse and prevention of child abuse.
• To promote and coordinate research on child abuse and child protection.
• Provide information and education to the public on child protection and protection of children’s
  rights.

Our Objectives

• Protecting children and women from all discrimination.
• Awareness programs for all aspects of child abuse prevention.
• To educate school children about child abuse and child rights.
• Provide legal counseling and advocacy support for women who are victims of domestic violence
• When a child enters into the legal system, intervene to expedite legal action on that child.
• Awareness of relevant authorities and agencies on prioritizing children in child protection and
  legal matters.
• Helping children maintain their mental health.
• Protecting the mental health of children and women during legal proceedings.
• Providing services to all, no matter what the child has gone through – abused, ill-treated,
  abandoned or hurt – without any discrimination.
• Ensuring that all authorities are effectively organizing people and institutions for the welfare of
  children.