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| Para-legal training of appropriate staff
members in Drop-in-Centres (DIC) working with drug using (DU)
clients or have DU clients has been a capacity building exercise
since 2001. This training was developed through a needs assessment
exercise undertaken in 2000 by the Law, Ethics & Human Rights
Sub-Committee. |
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| The training program was developed with
key contacts from the drug users and the Legal Aid Centre, Bar
Council Kuala Lumpur. It was essential that this training program
served the needs of the staff members of the DIC and considerable
effort was invested to ensure the Manual was in plain English
and contained topics directly relevant to their work. It is
worth noting that many of the staff members in DICs are recovering
drug users and are often the best placed people to work with
the community. |
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| The goal of the training program was to
ensure that the rights of drug users are protected. |
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| The training objectives were to: |
- Upgrade the relevant legal knowledge of the drop-in center
staff to enable them to better provide Para-legal information/advice
to the DU community
- To improve legal awareness among the DU community
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| Some of the key topics covered in the training
include the following: |
- Arrest, Police Powers and Rights of the Arrested Person
- Search
- Bail
- Court Etiquette
- Relevant Drug Laws:
- Section 6(1) & (2) Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952
- Section 12 DDA 1952
- Section 39 A (1) DDA 1952
- Section 39 A (2) DDA 1952
- Section 6 and Section 6 (1) (a) and (b) Dangerous
Drugs (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1998
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| For each topic there are case studies and
role-plays to assist the participants in the learning process.
Much of the learning process takes place in these case study
sessions. Many of the practical issues and queries are addressed
here. The training has two tests - at the start of the training
and at the end. These are multiple-choice questions to test
their knowledge. The Manual is provided about 1 week before
they attend the training and they are required to have familiarized
themselves with it. The first test is to ensure they have actually
read through the Manual. |
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| The training workshops have also started
to be conducted in Mandarin since 2003 and the Manuals are in
both languages. |
