Training Attorneys on Cross-Cultural Skills For Transitional Justice & Rule of Law Programs
This timely report discusses why cross-cultural skills are important and how to train attorneys on it before they work on transitional justice or rule of law programs abroad.
5 Unique Ways Legal Aid Organizations in the US are Assisting Low-Income Communities
From sustainability to economic empowerment, check out these 5 ways legal aid is assisting clients
A Review of 23 Access to Justice Assessments in Asia
This report studies over 23 assessments in 15 countries and also includes 26 surveys and other useful tools.
Impact of Criminal Justice Reform on Transitional Justice in Latin America
This study evaluates how reforms focusing on prosecutors can impact transitional justice and prosecutorial efforts against state officials for human rights violations.
Survey Results & Recommendations on Enhancing Access to Justice for People with Disabilities in Nigeria
This report discusses results and recommendations on how law enforcement, legal aid organizations, the court, and others can improve their efforts when working with people with disabilities.
Guide to Improving Women’s Land Rights Through Customary Justice Systems in Kenya
This USAID and Landesa report contains information on everything from the needs assessment phase to designing an exit strategy. It also provides advice on how to be inclusive of ethnic minority communities and how to ensure the community can be more accepting of women’s rights.
Mental Health Clinics for Courthouse & Jail Show Promising Results
Learn how this new pilot program offering mental health services at the courthouse and near a jail is helping to reduce the prison population.
Legal Strategies to Combat Trafficking in India
This report offers strategies on working with media, increasing collaboration among NGOs, enforcing court rulings and much more.
A Critical Assessment of DFID’s Security & Justice Programs
This ICAI report provides an overview of the UK’s security & justice priorities & is highly critical of its approach to reform.
Book: The International Rule of Law Movement: A Crisis of Legitimacy & the Way Forward
A summary of David Marshall’s 2014 book on “The International Rule of Law Movement: A Crisis of Legitimacy and the Way Forward”
Impact Evaluation on Training Traditional Leaders in Zimbabwe
This USAID report discusses results from the first impact evaluation conducted to systematically study a program training traditional leaders.
Evaluating the Cultural Impact of Psychosocial Counseling Programs
This article challenges practitioners to consider whether the psychosocial counseling NGOs provide are culturally appropriate (and whether there are any implications for the provision of legal aid).
Developing Communities of Practice for New Judges
This article discusses the importance of developing communities of practice and increasing social interaction among new judges.
Interview with Author Sahar Maranlou on Access to Justice in Iran
Sahar Maranlou discusses her new book and covers Islamic concepts of access to justice & the first survey of its kind on women’s perceptions of access to justice in Iran.
An Evaluation of Children’s Rights Programs in Tanzania
This evaluation discusses challenges & recommendations for one stop centers, children and gender desks at police stations, child friendly courts, public prosecutors & paralegal programs.
4 Things to Know about Youth, Mental Health & Juvenile Justice
Learn why mental health programs need to be strengthened for youth in the juvenile justice system.
Why Special Prosecutors Should Accompany Police Reform Programs
This former police officer-turned civil rights activist believes police training is insufficient to address police brutality. Learn more about what he recommends.
Event Recap: A Political Approach to Making Security & Justice Programs Work
This ODI event looks at current and emerging models to incorporate political economy into security and justice programs.
Improving Access to Justice in Post-Disaster Contexts
This article contains valuable recommendations for practitioners looking to bridge humanitarian assistance with legal aid and discusses why post-disaster legal concerns of communities shouldn’t go ignored.
5 Mobile Tech Innovations in the Rule of Law Sector
From Malaysia to the DRC, check out these 5 innovative ideas that are assisting prison officials, police, survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and more.
A Beginner’s Guide to Measuring Rule of Law & Security Programs
This toolkit provides information on everything from operating under time, political, financial, cultural and data constraints to the different ways to collect data for rule of law programs.
Access to Justice For The Urban Poor: Challenges & Recommendations
This Asian Development Bank report discusses common challenges the urban poor face and provides recommendations for rule of law reformers.
Global Strategies to Reduce Pretrial Detention
A new Open Society Foundations report discusses different country strategies to reduce pretrial detention.
Emerging Trends in Property Rights for Vulnerable Populations in Asia
Three emerging trends in property rights for vulnerable populations are explored. It discusses youth, displaced women, and innovative technology.
An Evaluation of Mediation Programs and Social Harmony in Nepal
This evaluation discusses mediation’s impact on social harmony, inter-group relationships and also discusses how ethnic majorities and minorities engage in mediation differently.
Upcoming Event: Expanding Access to Justice Through Community Paralegals
From August 25-29, I’ll be co-hosting an online discussion on improving the effectiveness of community paralegals. Join us!
Interview with Lisa Laplante on Fusing Psychosocial Care into Justice Reform in Post-Conflict Peru
Learn why transitional justice and rule of law in post-conflict countries are an ’empty concept’ if they don’t incorporate the psychosocial needs of its population into their programs.
A Controversial New Approach to Promoting Women’s Rights in Afghanistan
Learn why a purely rights-based approach to improving women’s access to justice may have little impact.
7 Online Initiatives to Expand Access to Justice
From skype to e-conferences and virtual consultations, check out how different organizations around the world are expanding access to justice.
Selecting the Right Indicators to Improve Court Performance
This intro to court indicators looks at 3 popular models. It also provides advice on how to collect data to support indicators and how this can translate into court reform.
How to Increase Collaboration Between Public Health and Justice Donors
This new report looks at how health & human rights donors address the intersection of access to justice and health and it outlines obstacles and opportunities for future collaboration.
New Handbook on Early Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Processes
UNODC and UNDP released a new handbook (including curriculum’s) for legal aid providers, police, judges, and prosecutors on providing early access to legal aid.
Diaspora Advises Morocco on Rule of Law Reform
The Moroccan Commission on National Dialogue & New Constitutional Prerogatives just released the results of a 10 month long consultation with the Diaspora on how to move forward with rule of law reform!
4 Ways Mobile Phones are Increasing Access to Justice
From Bolivia to Indonesia, check out 4 ways mobile phones have helped people with everything from land rights to court transparency.
Lessons from Legal Aid Pilot Projects in Jordan
Learn how one organization is creating discreet spaces for women to seek legal aid, how they’re making programs sustainable, and why they’re implementing alternatives to the ‘one-stop’ shop model.
Interview with the Refugee Law Project on Mobile Courts in Ugandan Refugee Settlements
Learn about the challenges refugees seek justice for, how witness protection and interpretation services are provided, and recommendations for the future!
Prison Paralegal Justice Centers in Kenya
Learn how prisoners are being trained as paralegals to provide access to justice to others in prison.
Securing Access to Justice and Land for Displaced Women
South Sudan, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Liberia, Palestine & Ecuador offer fascinating case studies on why supporting access to justice initiatives for women’s land rights are critical in post-conflict states
6 Innovative Justice Projects on GBV, Police, Pretrial Detention, and FOIA
Check out these new and innovative programs that use phones and other methods to address access to justice for GBV, pretrial detention, and more.
New Law Strengthens Native American Justice System in the US
The US is slowly taking steps to recognize and empower Native American justice systems by giving them the power to prosecute non-Indians for crimes committed in their territories.
Establishing Bar Associations in Post-Conflict States
Learn what factors are important to consider in creating a bar association in a post-conflict state.
Interview with Lucy Claridge on Increasing Access to Justice for Minorities
Learn why the rule of law sector needs to focus more on incorporating ethnic minorities and indigenous groups into their programs and what the long-term implications of not doing so are.
Kyrgyzstan Creates Independent Civil Society Council to Prevent Torture of Pre-Trial Detainees
Kyrgyzstan is the first country in Central Asia to adopt a law monitoring places of detention.
Introducing Plea Bargaining into Post-Conflict Countries
Read about best practices and lessons learned implementing plea bargaining in post-conflict countries.
South East Europe Creates Regional Database to Track Cases by the European Court of Human Rights
The first rule of law forum in South East Europe introduced a new database to monitor ECtHR jurisprudence with case law reproduced in the region’s different languages.
Surveying 30 Years of Paralegal Programs in the Philippines
This new World Bank report looks at the history of paralegals in the Philippines, government recognition of community-based paralegals, and factors that strengthen and weaken their work.
Indonesians Use Webinar to Share Experiences Working on Indigenous & Peasants Rights
Learn how two legal empowerment practitioners in Indonesia are sharing lessons learned working on indigenous and peasants rights.
Evaluating the Impact of an ADR Program on Property Disputes in Liberia
This ADR program decreased violent land disputes & increased community involvement in dispute resolution. Unintended consequences included an increase in conflict between youth and elders.
How Thailand Successfully Fused Human Rights Norms Into Police Training
Learn why this human rights training became something sought after by police in Thailand.
Interview with Donny Meertens on Women’s Land Rights & Youth Views on Transitional Justice in Colombia
Read how women mobilized around land rights, why single women are excluded from land restitution processes & the different views between women & youth on transitional justice!
Reinventing the Rules 