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Funding
to Date:
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$1,815 (%)
As of Feb 13 02:57 2012
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Theme:
Human Rights
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Sponsor: Ashoka Innovators for the Public (nominal)
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Project duration: Ongoing
Project's area of focus: human rights
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62% of people detained in Burundi prisons are awaiting trial. Yet to be convicted, these individuals sit 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. This project seeks to help women and children, whose the situation is particulary dire - imprisoned with men, and often the victims of rape and battery.
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IBJ mines jail records to find vulnerable clients lost within the legal system. Our public defenders investigate each case, motion for bail, lobby judges to expedite clients’ trial dates, and provide high quality counsel throughout the trial. |
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Over the course of a year, this project will secure legal protections and fair trial for 80 women and children who are currently facing indefinate detention - lost within the Burundian criminal justice system. |
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"IBJ's criminal defenders are helping Burundi overcome the destructive legacy of their decade-long civil war. We're strengthening rule of law and improving quality of life for ordinary people."
- Sanjeewa Liyanage, IBJ Program Director
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Karen Scheu,
Founder and CEO
International Bridges to Justice
10 Rue de Berne
Geneva, 1201
Switzerland
41227312441
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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.
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Defense lawyer capacity-building (training, resources and international partnerships), support for criminal justice reform through judicial roundtable conferences, and public legal rights awareness campaigns.
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Karen Tse,
Founder and CEO
Founded in 2000
Employees: 40
Volunteers: 15
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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
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A 31-year old human rights activist, Fulgence is a member of the Burundi-based human rights organization “Ligue Iteka”. A graduate of philosophy and theology, Fulgence has worked with a number of development and humanitarian organizations such as Catholic Relief Services, Oxfam and CORD. Committed to seeing the emergence of fair justice practices in Burundi, he has joined IBJ in 2007.
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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.
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