Summary
This project provides effective legal counsel and legal rights awareness for 100 indigent detainees in Zimbabwe, who are often abused and imprisoned with adult convicts.
What is the issue, problem, or challenge?
Prison conditions continue to be life threatening in Zimbabwe. Shortages of food, water, electricity, clothing, and soap are daily hardships. In 2009, there were approximately 300 juveniles in prison facilities; most of them held in pretrial detention with adult prisoners. They are particularly vulnerable to the effects of poor prison conditions, and local reports indicate numerous complaints of physical and sexual abuse.
How will this project solve this problem?
IBJ lawyers mine jail records to find juvenile offenders who have been lost in the legal system. They investigate each case, strive to acquire release on bail for their juvenile clients, and provide committed counsel to expedite their cases.
Potential Long Term Impact
This project will provide effective legal representation for 100 juveniles - 1/3 of the country’s juvenile prison population - enabling them to reunite with their families and rejoin their schools, and spawning a generation who value rule of law.
Project Message
As we are on the road to recovery as a nation, it’s important for the legal profession to realign and refocus in order to have the rule of law reinstated and justice become a reality.
- Zimbabwean Defense Attorney, Participant in the 2009 IBJ Legal Defense Training
Funding Information
This project has been retired and is no longer accepting donations.
Resources