‘Without rule of law, human rights are paper promises.’
‘Human rights and rule of law have to go hand in hand.
Legal Empowerment
Rights mean little if those entitled to them are not aware they exist. Due process is of doubtful value when you are illiterate, or unable to understand the proceedings. Courts are next to worthless for those who cannot afford the bus fare to reach them. Nor should justice be about courts alone. For all these reasons, legal empowerment is crucial. Part of IDLO's bottom-up (or demand side) approach, it involves equipping people with the knowledge, confidence and skills to realize their rights. Even as we work to improve the functioning of justice systems, we strengthen citizens' capacity to press for justice from below.
The rule of law only exists to the extent that it works for all.
Forging a regional network on HIV in Latin America
More than thirty representatives of civil society, human rights groups and international organizations attended an IDLO conference in Colombia, this week, on strengthening and expanding legal services available to people living with HIV and other key population groups in Latin America.
New expedited marriage process for Ukrainians
Ukrainian citizens may now apply for same-day marriage under a new pilot project, thanks to efforts by the Ministry of Justice to remove bureaucratic obstacles and deregulate the marriage registration process.
IDLO’s work in Rio featured in international TV report
Legal Aid for Africa
Last year Legal Aid South Africa supported nearly 800,000 people who would otherwise have had no recourse to justice because they could not afford legal fees.
IDLO at Durban AIDS2016 Conference
IDLO representatives are participating this week in the 21st International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, which is said to be the largest conference on any global health or development issue.
Myanmar Attorney General reaffirms cooperation
The Myanmar Union Attorney General H.E. U Tun Tun Oo visited the Yangon Rule of Law Centre where he met with staff and graduates from the rule of law courses and observed an ongoing ‘training of trainers’ course.
Strengthening the rule of law in humanitarian situations
More than 9,000 participants, including more than 50 Heads of State, joined the first World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), called by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, to demonstrate solidarity in the face of the ‘highest level of human suffering since the Second World War.’
Linking formal and informal justice
“There is no peace and security without democratic governance and development.
Promoting access to justice and the SDGs in the ASEAN region
“The ASEAN region, with its strong array of justice and development partners, provides an excellent platform to blossom both the letter and the spirit of [the] global goals,” said Dr.
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Key Initiatives
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Following the Tunisian revolution of 2011, the new Constitution adopted in 2014 aimed to embed the principle of equality between women and men as well as ensuring the State’s obligation to protect women’s rights. However, despite the reforms to the legal framework in Tunisia to increase protection for women against gender-based violence, justice sector professionals, particularly judges and bailiffs, have limited knowledge, skills and capacity to act as effective gender justice agents, as stipulated by the new Law. -
IDLO is rolling out a program that aims to secure accessible, quality and sustainable justice services for citizens - particularly those living in rural, poor and other disadvantaged communities. The Community Justice Programme (CJP) supports both state and non-state legal aid, legal empowerment and other justice delivery interventions. -
Since the revolution in 2011, Tunisia has experienced a period of significant political transition and change culminating in the adoption of a new constitution in 2014, which called for justice reform and protection of women’s rights. However, the practical application of the framework for legal assistance in Tunisia demonstrates the insufficiency of existing relevant mechanisms. Therefore, there is the strong need to empower women to access justice and claim their rights. -
Alternative dispute resolution, and in particular mediation, is finally gaining momentum in Tajikistan. Previous attempt to introduce law on mediation in Tajikistan have not been successful and consequently there is currently no formal legal framework for mediation. In the first phase of the project, the International Development Law Organization worked to promote commercial mediation and build momentum for its expansion. However, there is still the need to provide assistance to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mediation Center and improve its effectiveness. -
Strengthening prevention and accountability for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) through the rule of law and access to justice has been a priority for the Government of Myanmar since 2011, when it embarked on an unprecedented transition towards democracy. SGBV cases are rarely reported and, when they are, the justice sector fails to provide adequate remedies. Therefore, there is a widely recognized need to increase prevention of and accountability for SGBV.
