End indefinite detention for 80 regular Cambodians

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Project Need: $9,850

Funding
to Date:

$1,803 (%)
As of Feb 13 02:57 2012

Theme: Human Rights

Country: Cambodia [View country profile]

Sponsor: Ashoka Innovators for the Public (nominal)

Project Information

Project duration: 1 Year

Project's area of focus: human rights

Project Needs and Beneficiaries

The rise of the Khmer Rouge meant the death of rule of law in Cambodia, and the nation’s legal system is still recovering from the devastation. Ordinary men and women facing charges can wait in legal purgatory indefinitely, without access to family, medical assistance, legal counsel, or expected dates to trial – while investigators use coercive methods of interrogation, including arbitrary detention and even torture. We seek to ensure timely, fair trials for all Cambodians.

Activities

IBJ mines jail records to find clients who have been lost in the legal system. Our public defenders investigate each case, lobby judges to expedite clients’ trial dates, and provide high quality counsel throughout the trial.

Expected Outcomes

Over the course of a year, this project will secure legal protections and fair trial for 80 men and women who are currently facing indefinite detention - lost within the Cambodian criminal justice system.

Project Message

Ending torture isn’t an unattainable goal,” said Ouk. “It is just about guaranteeing people the legal protections afforded to them by law.
- Ouk Vandeth, Former Cambodian policeman turned public defender

Project Contact

Karen Tse,
Executive Director
International Bridges to Justice
64 rue de Monthoux
Geneva, 1201
Switzerland
41227312441

Resources

Organization's Overview


International Bridges to Justice 64 rue de Monthoux GenevaGeneva1201 Switzerland (0-41-22) 731-2441 Organization's Homepage

Organization's Mission

In recognition of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Bridges to Justice, as a non-government and non-profit organization, is dedicated to ensuring the basic legal rights of ordinary citizens in developing countries. Specifically, IBJ works to guarantee the rights of all citizens to competent legal representation, to be protected from cruel and unusual punishment, and to a fair trial.

Organization's Programs

Defense lawyer capacity-building (training, resources and international partnerships), support for criminal justice reform through judicial roundtable conferences, and public legal rights awareness campaigns.

Organization Statistics		Financial Statistics
Karen Tse, Founder and CEO Founded in 2000 Employees: 40 Volunteers: 15		Other funding sources: (In 2009) Bridgewater Foundation; Clifford Chance Foundation; Cottier Donze Foundation; Drummond-Berk Family Trust; EuropeAid; Ford Foundation; Holthues Trust; I Do Foundation; International Bar Association Charitable Trust; Lien Foundation; MacArthur Foundation; Matrix Chambers Causes Fund; Open Society Institute; Skoll Foundation; UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture; US Department of State, Democracy & Rule of Law Program. Religious Affiliation: none

Personnel Overview

Sanjeewa Liyanage - Program Director

Sanjeewa oversees IBJ’s international portfolio of programs and is working to develop new initiatives that bring IBJ methodologies defenders to worldwide. Originally from Sri Lanka, Sanjeewa became IBJ’s Program Director in October 2006, after over 12 years of experience in human rights project management in Asia.

Ouk Vandeth - Cambodia Fellow

Ouk Vandeth is a survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide. He served as a police official from 1985 to 1994, a period during which it was common practice to obtain confessions from the accused using torture. Ouk subsequently left his police position to study law, and he became one of the first 25 legal aid lawyers in Cambodia. Ouk joined IBJ in 2007 as a Fellow.