Overview

For 15 years, International Bridges to Justice has been developing and expanding its tools to support defenders of justice and human rights worldwide. Our global programming is designed to reach the largest number of human rights and criminal justice defenders possible. We offer a wide range of training manuals, country assessment and scorecard tools, and other resources, all accessible to lawyers everywhere through IBJ’s e-learning program. Through this online platform, we are able to provide essential legal information on due process rights, enabling those accused of crimes to report violations of their human rights at any stage, from arrest to trial. Our Criminal Defense Wiki brings case law, codes, treaties, and other resources to lawyers in developing countries throughout the world and has been accessed by millions. We also support our JusticeMakers online network, through which we select defender activists and provide them with seed grants as well as a support network empowering them to undertake projects such as rights awareness campaigns, multi-stakeholder dialogues, and defense bar trainings. To date, IBJ’s JusticeMakers have included individuals from 37 countries including Colombia, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Afghanistan. In addition to this global programming, at present we maintain permanent programs in six countries. Through these country programs, we have been able to train police and prosecutors, empower defense lawyers, and genuinely change the manner in which criminal justice systems operate.

Background

Cambodia’s legal system was completely destroyed during the Khmer Rouge regime. Legal professionals were virtually driven into extinction as the regime systematically eliminated its “enemies.” In the aftermath of Pol Pot’s regime, those arrested had no access to justice and were left in prison indefinitely. The lack of legal representation also increased the likelihood of torture at the hands of prison officials. Today, Cambodia continues to suffer from a significant shortage of lawyers and trained professionals. Permanent legal aid services are available in only 14 of the 25 provinces. Without adequate legal representation Cambodians are more likely to wait longer in jail for trial, dramatically increasing their risk of torture, abuse, and disease.

Mission

-Four critical areas have been identified to help create a functioning legal aid system: -Increase the number of Defender Resource Centers to cover all 25 provinces. -Further increase early access to counsel through agreements with local police officials. -Continue capacity building and training of criminal defense lawyers and justice sector officials. -Expand rights awareness campaigns to reach out to all individuals in Cambodia. -Engage in an advocacy dialogue to establish a state-sponsored legal aid system.

Goal

-IBJ provides access to high quality free legal aid services to the poorest of the poor in 20 provinces and in the Court of Appeal. Through early access to counsel, IBJ eliminates instances of torture or other inhumane treatment. -IBJ conducts rights awareness campaigns to inform individuals of their legal rights and encourage them to claim these rights. -IBJ runs radio rights awareness programs to explain to individuals their legal rights to counsel, to a fair trial, and to be free from torture, and advising them on where to seek legal aid services. -IBJ provides legal skills trainings to increase the capacity of Cambodia’s criminal defense lawyers. -IBJ organizes Roundtable discussions to promote cooperation among justice stakeholders including Governors, Commune Chiefs, Judges, Prosecutors, NGOs, Prison Chiefs. -IBJ conducts monthly meetings with other local NGOs for better inter-organizational communication and case referrals. -IBJ established a 24-hour legal aid hotline for accused, allowing IBJ to provide the fastest possible legal representation to detainees in receiving about 50 calls per month.