Eliminating Gender Based Violence is pivotal to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of Vulnerable population globally (Sustainable Development Goal 5). The United Nations Commission on the Status of Vulnerable Population supports the development and use of mobile technologies as tools in the response to Gender Based violence in its general recommendation no. 35.

According to UNHCR there are 6 core forms of Gender Based Violence: Physical, Sexual, Psychological/Emotional, Economic and Cultural.

Social factors contributing to poor health often overlap with specific legal needs, particularly relating to income security, insurance, housing, employment, and legal status. Vulnerable people—those who belong to “groups that are not well-integrated into the health care system due to ethnic, cultural, economic, geographical, or health characteristics” are often deprived of the benefits and protection afforded by the law owing to considerable gaps in access to affordable, appropriate, and timely legal services. Further, traditional community legal services are typically inundated with acute legal problems and few resources can be spared to address systemic and preventive legal needs.

Informal screening for legal needs by each patient’s family physician, social worker, nurse, or other clinician serves as a starting point for accessing legal services. Clinicians are encouraged to consider which aspects of patients’ medical concerns might be related to remediable legal issues; there is no tool or standardized method of screening, rather, the particulars of screening are left to the discretion of individual clinicians. A standardized referral form is available across most metropolitan healthcare electronic medical record systems; alternatively, the option for patients to self-refer exists, respecting patient autonomy.

We recognize that many patients will encounter barriers to attending traditional, booked appointments, legal services are offered on both a referral and a drop-in basis. The type and nature of the direct legal service provided is tailored to each patient’s particular needs and their willingness to pursue different legal options. The table below outlines the types of services offered for the direct legal services provided through m-kliniki app and Artificial Intelligence chatbot;

LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDED DESCRIPTION OF LEGAL SERVICE
Clinician consultation Legal information to family health team clinician on a particular legal issue, including discussion of referral appropriateness
Legal information Provision of relevant legal information including laws, regulations, rules, or policies about a client’s legal problem
Referral Provision of legal information and contact information to the most appropriate legal professional, clinic, or NGO based on the client’s legal needs
Assisted referral Referral including provision of legal information, documentation, and limited analysis of client’s legal issue
Legal advice Issue-specific information and contextual interpretation of the law with specific recommendations based on client goals; restricted to lawyers and other designated professionals
Advocacy, brief-drafting service, or retainer Includes limited and full legal representation, drafting of documents and letters, negotiating on the client’s behalf, and appearance in court