Hailu, Emezat(phD)Zenebe, Yodit2021-04-272023-11-082021-04-272023-11-082012http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/26234Due to their vulnerability women face various problems and experience discrimination, domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment. In Ethiopia although women experience violence they are not in a position to access justice due to poverty, sociocultural factors and discrimination. Therefore, to curb this problem legal aid programs are essential in making indigent women enjoy their right to equality before the law. The main purpose of this study is therefore to examine the role of legal aid in promoting the rights of women, identify the major factors/challenges that hinder women from accessing legal aid taking Hawassa university legal aid center and Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association as case studies. Methodologically, the study is based on a qualitative approach. It relies on analyzing both primary and secondary data sources. The primary data sources are gathered using semi- structured interview questions, with focus group discussion and personal observations. The study has employed purposive sampling procedure for contacting the interviewees. The secondary data sources are gathered predominantly from literature out puts, journals and other publications. The finding of the study shows that legal aid service is inaccessible for the majority indigent women. Lack of awareness about the availability of legal aid, economic problems , culture and family pressures, lack of legal rights awareness, language in which service is provided and women’s perception towards legal aid are among the barriers that deny women access to legal aid. Regardless of the above facts legal aid has great role in promoting the rights of women, women who are victims of violence are able to claim for compensation, secure their property and inheritance rights and further make them aware of their legal rights. The study recommends that it is important to have Awareness raising campaign about the availability and importance of legal aid service and disseminate legal rights education to increase women awareness about their rights and obligations under the law. Legal aid service providers shall also make legal aid centers physically accessible to the majority in need. This study also reveals the importance of having professionally competent service providers and the diversified use of non lawyers in order to reduce the shortage of man power.enEthiopian Women Lawyers AssociationThesis