Zhang Xiufu: The 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed that the socialist judicial system must guarantee fairness and justice in the whole society. The legal aid system is an important part of the judicial system to ensure this goal. Legal aid is the responsibility of the government, and governments at all levels should include legal aid funds in the financial budget, which will increase year by year with the development of local economy. This is the main way to solve the legal aid funds. At the same time, legal aid is a public welfare undertaking, the beneficiary is the whole society, and its resource base is also society.
Reporter: What are the main functions of China Legal Aid Foundation?
Zhang Xiufu: In the course of its development, China's legal aid industry has encountered a shortage of funds similar to that of many countries in the world. Faced with the serious shortage of legal aid funds, governments at all levels can not provide more funds to meet the needs of legal aid for the time being. In order to solve such a difficult problem, with the approval of the State Council, China Legal Aid Foundation was established on 1997. It is the duty of China Legal Aid Foundation to mobilize and encourage the whole society to participate in and raise legal aid funds.
Reporter: How feasible is it to support legal aid by social donation?
Zhang Xiufu: In fact, practice in some places has proved that this is entirely possible. Ningxiang County, Hunan Province is located in the central region, and its economic development is not fast. However, faced with the shortage of legal aid funds, the comrades of the county judicial bureau made progress despite difficulties and sought support from both sides at the same time. On the one hand, they asked the government to increase funds, on the other hand, they tried their best to carry out activities to raise legal aid funds throughout the county. In 2002, it only took eight months. 2 10 units and individuals in the county donated 206,000 yuan in legal aid funds, which not only increased a lot of legal aid funds, but also helped many poor people who needed legal aid to get timely assistance, expanded the social impact of the legal aid system and promoted the improvement of the local legal aid system.
Reporter: Does the government have any special policies for foundations?
Zhang Xiufu: China Legal Aid Foundation was established late, and its fund base is relatively weak, but it has received the attention and support of the government and all sectors of society. Not long ago, State Taxation Administration of The People's Republic of China approved the preferential tax deduction policy for taxpayers who donated legal aid funds. The Legal Expert Committee of the Legal Aid Foundation, composed of 17 famous legal experts and scholars, was formally established in Beijing. The upcoming large-scale public welfare activity of "Realizing Fairness and Justice-Legal Aid in China" is an opportunity for China Legal Aid Foundation to play its role and benefit the people. Give full play to the advantages of non-profit organizations and mobilize social forces to solve social problems.