China's Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has issued a circular requiring all legal staff at various government levels to provide legal aid in rural areas.
The circular implores legal staff to provide free legal services to poor farmers and others who might not have adequate funds, including the elderly, disabled people, and women.
MOJ requires that lawyers, notaries and grassroots legal staff be organized to offer comprehensive and multi-level legal assistance to meet the economic development of the rural areas.
The circular emphasizes that the legal staff should play an important role in countryside elections, decision-making and democratic supervision so as to protect farmer's right.
