End indefinite detention for 80 regular Cambodians

Summary

If you were suspected of a crime, would you be treated fairly? In Cambodia... the likely answer is no. This project gives 80 long-term detainees a trained defense lawyer and their day in court. project reportread updates from the field

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Received $1,038 from 19 donations from people like:

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More Information About this Project

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.

Funding Information

Total Funding Received to Date: $1,038
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $8,812
Total Funding Goal: $9,850

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources

Why this Project is Important

Potential Long Term Impact

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

Who is Running This Project

Contact

Karen Scheu
Founder and CEO
International Bridges to Justice
10 Rue de Berne
Geneva, 1201
Switzerland
41227312441
Email:

Project Sponsor

Ashoka Innovators for the Public

Organization

International Bridges to Justice
10 Rue de Berne
Geneva, Geneva 1201
Switzerland
(011-41-22) 731-2441
http://www.ibj.org

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Where this Project is Located

Country

This project is located in CambodiaCambodia and can also be found under Human RightsHuman Rights.

For more information about Cambodia, read the Human Development Report on Cambodia or the Wikipedia entry for Cambodia.

When this Project was Updated

Last Updated

This project was last updated on February 3, 2010.

Date Added to GlobalGiving

This project was added to the GlobalGiving project catalog on August 20, 2008

Latest Update from the Field

IBJ Cambodia: So much progress has been made!

By International Bridges to Justice - International Bridges to Justice, February 03, 2010 12:37 PM

Government officials and representatives of the Bar Association
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IBJ Collaborates with the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia to hold a Workshop Defender Training Program in Phnom Penh
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
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On August 27th, 2009, IBJ Cambodia and the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia (BAKC) joined together to hold a workshop defender training program in Phnom Penh. Held at the Naga World Cambodia Hotel, this highly successful event tallied up a total of 94 participants to discuss the difficulties of implementing the new criminal code procedure in Cambodia. The main objective being an overhaul of the current knowledgebase that runs throughout the defender foundation, through the combined use of past experience from both lawyers as well as law makers and law enforcement officials.

Kicking off the workshop were speeches by IBJ Fellow Ouk Vandeth as well as the Chief of the BAKC H.E. Chiv Song Hak, which led into the first of two main sessions, where lawyers and government officials introduced the procedures of accusations within the court, and evaluated the difficulties lawyers may face in relation to these accusations.

In the second half of the event, Mr. Hing Thirith, a Prosecutor from the Supreme Court, was the head speaker and articulated the procedure of investigation that takes place when in the role of an Investigating Judge. Following this, a lawyer of the Royal Government of Cambodia spoke of the challenges a lawyer faces in the investigation stage

We saw an immense amount of interest from the crowd, with many questions being asked and problems being solved, with the facilitators, the speakers, and anyone else who may have been knowledgeable providing support through this portion of the workshop.

IBJ’s first collaboration with the BAKC resulted in a great achievement. To wind down the final moments of the workshop, the Secretary of State of MOJ, H.E. Sam Sophal, thanked all of the participants for such a keen and engaging experience, and expressed his enthusiasm with regards to the great success of the event. Through the continued alliance between IBJ and the BAKC we will be able to improve and upgrade the knowledge and awareness required for lawyers in relation to the accusation procedure as well as the investigative procedures in the system.
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First of all, we would like to thank you all for your support of IBJ’s Cambodia Country Program. With your help, we have been able to continue and expand our work in Cambodia. Through our work in Cambodia, we're able to assist more and more indigent accused, providing them with legal assistance as well as rights awareness. Your support is vital to the continued success of our Cambodia program!

Basic background about IBJ Cambodia:
Since 2001, IBJ has been helping Cambodia to rebuild its justice system by organizing trainings sessions, rights awareness campaigns, roundtables and providing legal aid services. Through 3 offices located in Phnom Penh, Takeo and Kampong Chhnang, IBJ holds seminars and training sessions throughout the country to help train attorneys and inform citizens of their rights.

What's New?
Since you last heard from us, IBJ’s Cambodia Program, lead by IBJ Fellow Ouk Vandeth, has been making great progress.
Thanks again for all your support!

Links:

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