However, the Oscar Foundation Free Legal Aid Clinic-Kenya (OFFLACK) continues to do much of their litigation on HIV in an adhoc manner, as and when the need arose. In the 1990’s, when Kenya saw the need to deal with HIV/AIDS urgently and effectively, the Oscar Foundation Free Legal Aid Clinic-Kenya (OFFLACK) felt that a planned legal intervention was necessary to support PLWHA. It also felt the need to sensitize decision markers and those affected, on law and its link with the public health crisis that HIV/AIDS created.

With this in mind Oscar Foundation Free Legal Aid Clinic-Kenya (OFFLACK) set up a mobile full time Legal Aid Clinic with a 24hours help line response number 0900 555 999 the unit started Para- legal training in Nairobi, Ruiru, Thika, Mombasa and Kakamega town and published a HIV/AIDS protocol at work place. This was followed with setting up of a project office (PO) at China Centre, office Ngong Road Nairobi Kenya. Telephone 020 2041245, 020 2731964/5

The Foundation has a network of 150 Probono Lawyers working in their commercial offices country wide and heading Oscar Foundation Free Legal Aid Clinic-Kenya (OFFLACK) Local Project Advisory Group (LPAG) The Oscar Foundation Free Legal Aid Clinic-Kenya (OFFLACK) mobile full time Legal Aid Clinic has two main spheres of activity: -Providing Free Legal services to persons living with/affected by HIV/AIDS and the poor as provided in the Civil Procedure Act Cap 21 Order XXXII Rule 1-18 Laws of Kenya -Advocacy and policy research on human rights and the law in order to access justice to those in custody and the poor.

Advocacy & Policy Research
The Foundation mobile Legal Aid Clinic unit’s advocacy and policy research initiatives
compliment the legal services. It’s through the units’ advocacy effort that links are made with other Non-Governmental Organization (NGO’s). Policy Research initiative attempts to keep track of policy developments on human rights in Kenya.

The Advocacy and Policy Research Initiative of the Unit include: -
1. Conducting workshops/seminars/meetings on HIV/AIDS, human rights and the Law for various sectors including PLWHA, NGO’s working in the HIV/AIDS field, Lawyers, and Policy Makers. The aim of these programmes is to empower and sensitize the various sectors that deal with the epidemic on the inextricable link between it and a right-based Framework and to build capacity and knowledge on human rights. Over the years the units has conducted several such programmes including monitoring places of detention via regular visits and training of paralegals Kakamega, Nairobi, Thika, Ruiru, and Mombasa.

2. Producing reports and materials that complement the aforementioned process. This includes reports on prison conditions and posters on access to justice.

3. Conducting and participating in campaigns (Access to Justice campaign).

4. Several other initiatives including teaming up with the judiciary, doctors, the police, and the prison department to organize and conduct training workshops, outreach activity in the form of stalls at fairs and in public, organizing monthly meetings as an opportunity monitor human rights accountability and make recommendations.

For More information about Oscar Foundation Free Legal Aid Clinic-Kenya (OFFLACK) activities Please call our HELPLINE 0900 555 999 and 0900 33 23 66 or visit our website at http: www.oscarfound.org