SPEAK UP FOR JUSTICE!
Civil society’s letter to the UN
In 2015, the future of global development was decided. To build a better world, justice had to be included in the Sustainable Development Goals.
At the United Nations, member countries discussed the goals and targets that would shape global development for years to come. If the new framework failed to empower people to understand and use the law, billions would be left behind. More than 260 organizations came together to urge governments to adopt a development agenda that spreads justice, legal empowerment and the rule of law. They succeeded.
Justice 2015 Campaign Resources
Appeal to the Member States of the United Nations
Justice Should be Included in the Post-2015 Development Goals
We, the undersigned, submit this respectful yet urgent call to the Member States of the United Nations to declare now that justice, the rule of law, and legal empowerment are essential principles in the new global development framework.
Around the world, billions of people live without the full protection of the law. They are unfairly driven from their land, denied essential services, extorted by officials, excluded from society, and intimidated by violence. Their lack of legal protection is a source of repression and an affront to human dignity.
Legal empowerment means giving all people the power to understand and use the law to secure justice and meet basic needs.
In the decades since the 1950s, when paralegals in South Africa began helping an oppressed people resist apartheid, legal empowerment has challenged systems and traditions that entrench inequality and has grown into a global movement. Today, grassroots legal advocates in the Philippines are helping farmers participate in nationwide agrarian reforms. In Argentina, shantytown residents are pursuing legal remedies to bring clean water and other essential services to their communities. Similar endeavors, some of great scope, some modest, are unfolding worldwide.
For legal empowerment to succeed, individuals must live in societies dedicated to justice and governed by the rule of law. The rule of law is defined by three principles: First, the law is superior to, and thus binds, the government and all its officials. Second, the law must respect and preserve the dignity, equality, and human rights of all persons. To these ends, the law must establish and safeguard constitutional structures necessary to build a free society in which all citizens have a meaningful voice in shaping and enacting the rules that govern them. Finally, the law must devise and maintain systems to advise all persons of their rights, and it must empower them to fulfill just expectations and seek redress of grievances without fear of retaliation.
Where legal empowerment efforts take hold, the results are visible and quantifiable. Women in Bangladesh who challenge the practice of illegal dowries are reporting greater cash savings. Due to the work of community-based paralegals, grievances in Liberia are being resolved more equitably, resulting in greater food security. Prisoners in Kenya have returned to jobs and families after successfully appealing their sentences.
Affirming that justice, the rule of law, and legal empowerment belong in the framework for global development requires no great shift. The United Nations and many member states have already recognized the importance of the rule of law and legal empowerment in the UN Millennium Declaration, in the findings of the Commission on the Legal Empowerment of the Poor (CLEP), and in two General Assembly resolutions. Additionally, the UN Development Programme, the World Bank, and UN Women all support legal empowerment programs in many parts of the world. The Global Legal Empowerment Network was formed in 2010 to implement the CLEP’s goal of using legal empowerment to advance development. As members and allies of that network, we advocate a post-2015 agenda with justice, the rule of law, and legal empowerment as its guiding principles.
The Report of the High Level Panel of Eminent Persons (HLP) on the Post-2015 Development Agenda places strong emphasis on justice and the rule of law in recognition that these principles not only “help drive development,” but also “have their own intrinsic value.” The HLP report offers a platform on which the world should build. By concentrating on five priorities—access to information, legal identity, rights to land and property, legal participation, and legal services—the new framework can ensure that no one is left behind.
The Five Priorities
1. Access to Information: People should know about the laws and regulations that govern their lives, particularly those concerning essential services. States should commit to disseminating simple and clear statements of law and policy. They should also grant people an enforceable right to information to ensure that laws and regulations are implemented effectively.
Illustrative Target: Guarantee the public’s right to information and to access government data.
2. Legal Identity: Without state-issued identity documents, individuals may not be able to open a bank account, obtain a mobile phone, or secure the goods and services necessary to work and save for their families and their future. Government should ensure that access to legal identity is universal.
Illustrative Target: Ensure no one suffers from a lack of secure legal identity.
3. Rights to Land and Property: Approximately three billion people around the world live without secure rights to what are often their greatest assets: their lands, forests, and pastures. Increasing demand for land is leading to exploitation and conflict. Giving communities the power to manage their land and natural resources would reduce poverty and promote sustainable development. Securing property rights for all individuals, including women, is necessary to improve financial stability and personal safety.
Illustrative Targets:
Increase the share of women and men with secure rights to land and property.
Increase the amount of land for which communities have secure tenure and decisions are taken through an open and accountable process.
4. Legal Participation: All persons are entitled to shape the laws and policies that affect their lives. Just as communities should govern their land and natural resources, people should have a voice in how services like healthcare and education are delivered. Participation should not be limited to elections every few years. Citizens must have a role in shaping the fundamental, everyday work of their governments, which in turn have a duty to operate transparently and respond to the needs of their citizens.
Illustrative Target: Ensure the participation of citizens in monitoring essential services, including water, healthcare, and education.
5. Legal Services: Everyone should have access to fair, effective forums for resolving conflicts, for seeking protection from violence, and for addressing grievances with the state. Equitable administration of justice requires quality services from a broad range of institutions, including the police, the courts, administrative tribunals, ombudsmen, and customary authorities.
For people to have a fair shot when they approach those institutions, they need access to affordable legal aid services. Creative legal aid efforts, such as those that combine a small corps of public interest lawyers with a larger frontline of community paralegals, can seek effective solutions and engage the full range of justice institutions.
Illustrative Target: Ensure all people have access to justice institutions and legal aid services that are affordable, fair, and timely.
Civil society has a vital role in realizing all five of these goals. Public interest lawyers, paralegals, and other civil society actors have proven effective in helping people understand and use the law. In Jordan, advocates work with migrant women to recover salaries and passports unlawfully withheld by their employers. In Uganda, community based paralegals help communities to document their customary land claims, taking advantage of laws that were on the books but seldom used.
The new development framework offers an opportunity to scale up civil society legal empowerment efforts. Governments can provide financing via autonomous bodies like ombudsman offices or public legal aid boards if the bodies genuinely respect civil society independence. Additional funding can and should come from international development agencies and foundations, as well as from client fees and contributions, however small, from those who receive legal services. A global fund for legal empowerment, moreover, could create a channel for multilateral cooperation.
There are practical ways to measure progress towards justice, and governments are making great strides in doing so. Ministries of justice already gather data on case volume and duration. National statistics offices often include questions about legal knowledge and legal access in their surveys.
But we can do even more. The High Level Panel calls for a data revolution driven by the new development framework. This opportunity must be seized to enhance data collection and analysis. Indicators can draw on diverse sources and can be adapted to country context. Data disaggregated by gender, ethnicity, and class can help governments to concentrate development efforts on those who need them most.
This opportunity to pursue what is right must be grasped. Deprivation cannot be defeated, nor can the threat of dispossession and exploitation be lifted, without legal empowerment. The world must know at once the urgency of its own survival. Respect for life and human dignity must be a common belief; tolerance must be a common bond; and law and justice must be a common purpose. We, the undersigned, thus call on the Member States of the United Nations to proclaim that justice, the rule of law, and legal empowerment belong in the new global development framework. The need is urgent. The potential is historic.
Signatories
- Sir Fazle Abed, Founder and Chairperson, BRAC, Bangladesh
Madeline Albright, Former U.S. Secretary of State, USA
Lloyd Axworthy, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada
Fernando Cardoso, Former President of Brazil
Prince el-Hassan bin Talal, Jordan
Hernando de Soto, Institute for Liberty and Democracy, Peru
Mo Ibrahim, founder and chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
Justice Anthony Kennedy, U.S. Supreme Court, USA
Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland
George Soros, Founder and Chairman, Open Society Foundations
Ernesto Zedillo, Former President of Mexico
Jimmy Carter, Former President of the United States
Erna Witolaer, Former Minister of Human Settlements and Regional Development, Indonesia
The Most Reverend Desmond M. Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa
Peter Gabriel, Musician and Activist, United Kingdom
Lakhdar Brahimi, Former UN Special Envoy to Syria, Algeria
Luciana Bercovich, Asociación Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia, Argentina
Maja Daruwala, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, India
Angote Gertrude, Kituo cha Sheria, Centre for Legal Empowerment, Kenya
Steve Golub, School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, USA
Nadejda Hriptievschi, Legal Resources Centre, Moldova
Diala Khamra, Justice Center for Legal Aid, Jordan
Simeon Koroma, Timap for Justice, Sierra Leone
Marlon Manuel, Alternative Law Groups, Philippines
Nomboniso Maqubela, National Alliance for the Dev’t of Community Advice Offices, South Africa
Vivek Maru, Namati
David McQuoid Mason, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Clifford Msiska, Paralegal Advisory Service Institute, Malawi
Manolo Morales, ECOLEX, Ecuador
Faustina Pereira, BRAC, Bangladesh
Uli Sihombing, Indonesian Legal Resource Center, Indonesia
Zhang Wanhong, Wuhan University School of Law, China
Virak Yeng, Community Legal Education Center, Cambodia
Justice and Empowerment Initiatives, Nigeria
Pro Bono Net, United States
National Center for Access to Justice, United States
California Institute for Rural Studies, United States
Solidarity Community Care Organization, Namibia
Legal Resources Foundation, Zambia
Institute for Environment and Welfare, Albania
Centre for Policy Advocacy and Leadership Development, Nigeria
Integrated Development Foundation, Nepal
Comunita di Visignano d’Istria in Esilio, Italy
SpringAid International Development, Nigeria
Institut Panafricain de Droit de la Femme, Democratic Republic of Congo
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, United States
New Haven Urban Design League, United States
Afghan Women’s Project, United States
Les Ambassadeurs de l’Environnement, France
Albinism Foundation of East Africa, Kenya
Penal Reform International, The Netherlands
African Centre for Justice Innovation, South Africa
Auero Anello Associazione, Italy
Tashabbus, Uzbekistan
Brandeis University- Sustainable International Development Program, United States
EPAS Association, Romania
Centro de la Mujer Panameña, Panama
ARDD Legal Aid, Jordan
Universal Rights Network, Australia
Resource Link Foundation, Ghana
Oxford Lawyers Without Borders, United Kingdom
Baghdad Women Association, Iraq
The Lebanese Council to Resist Violence Against Women, Lebanon
Penal Reform International – MENA Region, Jordan
Salud por Derecho, Spain
Women Empowerment Organization, Iraq
Association “Vasa prava BiH”, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Monitoring Committee of Penal Reform and Human Rights, Kazakhstan
Tamkeen Fields for Aid, Jordan
Protimos, South Africa
AID Uganda, Uganda
LBH Masyarakat, Indonesia
Initiatives for Positive Change, Liberia
Soros Foundation-Moldova, Moldova
Human Rights Center Somaliland, Somalia
Center for Environment and Development (CED), Cameroon
Legal Assistance Center, Sierra Leone
CINEP, Colombia
ARDD-LegalAid, Jordan
EdLawCourses, Canada
Dynamique Synergie des Femmes ( DSF ), Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kenya Land Alliance, Kenya
Leandra Community Centre, South Africa
LIPRODHOR, Rwanda
Transparency International Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone
World Justice Project, United States
Women Initiative For Peace And Good Governance, Afghanistan
- Kontras, Indonesia
Alliance for Social Dialogue, Nepal
CEEAD, A.C., Mexico
Centre for Accountability and the Rule of Law, Sierra Leone
Human Rights Center, Somaliland
Mankind’s Activities for Development Accreditation Movement, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone Network on the Right to Food, Sierra Leone
PAIIS- Universidad de los Andes, Colombia
IDIP Institute for the Defence of Public Interest, Mexico
Prison Fellowship Liberia, Liberia
Network of Human Rights Journalists- The Gambia, Gambia
McCandless Tramley, Canada
Ateneo Human Rights Center, The Philippines
Centre for Access to Justice, Peace, and Human Rights, Sierra Leone
Institute for Justice in Africa, United Kingdom
Omilero International, Nigeria
Ntsu Community Legal Advice Office, South Africa
Namibia Paralegal Association, Namibia
Justice for All Organization, Afghanistan
Interchurch Advice Office, South Africa
Legal Action for Persons with Disabilities Uganda, Uganda
Humanist Watch Salone, Sierra Leone
Justice and Peace Commission, Sierra Leone
The African Youth in Technology Organization, South Africa
Corruption Brakes Crusade, Uganda
International Human Rights Commission, The Netherlands
Alianza de Derecho Ambiental y Agua, Guatemala
Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association, Cameroon
SWEAT Development Programme, Tanzania
Network Movement for Justice and Development, Afghanistan
Network Movement for Youth and Children’s Welfare, Sierra Leone
Ju/’hoan Transcription Group, Namibia
Leandra Community Centre, South Africa
Law and Society Trust, Sri Lanka
Network of University Legal Aid Institutions, Nigeria
World Future Council, Germany
Maliasili Initiatives, United States
Job Justice Institute, South Africa
Human Rights First Rwanda Association, Rwanda
Women Development Response Agency, Kenya
Letsopa Advice Centre, South Africa
Vision for Learning and Peace, Sudan
Bar Hostess Empowerment and Support Programe, Kenya
Basilwizi Trust, Zimbabwe
The Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance, Egypt
Paralegal Alliance Network, Zambia
PROTECT SL, Sierra Leone
Black Sash, South Africa
Kamukunji Community Based Organizations Network, Kenya
Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society, India
Centre for Participatory Learning, India
Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia, Indonesia
Legal Aid Clinic- School of Law- University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development, Indonesia
Patriot Legal Aid Foundation, Indonesia
Community Resource Centre, Thailand
Laboratório de Estudos, Pesquisas e Extensão sobre Condições de Vida e Direitos Humanos na Bahia, Brazil
Justice Without Frontiers, Lebanon
AdvocAid, Sierra Leone
Madaripur Legal Aid Association, Bangladesh
Association of the Egyptian Female Lawyers, Egypt
Land and Development Solutions International, United States
The Serious Work Association, Egypt
Egyptian Association for Legal Development, Egypt
Network of University Legal Aid Institutions, Nigeria
Safeplan Uganda, Uganda
Advocacy Forum, Nepal
Consortium for Land Research and Policy Dialogue, Nepal
Media for Development and Social Change, Nepal
Christworld’s Justice & Protection Missions Ministry Inc., Philippines
People Land and Rural Development Consultants, Kenya
Autopromotion pour un Développement Humain Durable, Togo
Positive Peace Group, Cameroon
STAR Kampuchea, Cambodia
Child Rights International Network, UK
Terblanche Paralegal Services, South Africa
Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project, USA
Democratic Commission for Human Development, Pakistan
Accountability Lab, United States
Alliances for Africa, Afghanistan
The Brook Advocates Limited, United Kingdom
International Justice Center for Post-Graduate development, United States
Natural Justice: Lawyers for Communities and the Environment, South Africa
ANSA-Arab World, Tunisia
MIRTH Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Forum for Legal Assistance(FOLEA), Tanzania
African Law Foundation (AFRILAW), Nigeria
International Human Rights Commission, Netherlands
HRWG-Indonesia, Indonesia
Waka Rural Development Initiative, Nigeria
Justice & Empowerment Initiatives, Nigeria
Universal Justice Advocates, Netherlands
Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti, United States
- Arhebis Digital Systems, Romania
The Ubuntu Centre, South Africa
Centro Terra Viva-CTV, Mozambique
Women’s Legal Centre, South Africa
Lawyers’ National Campaign for Elimination of Caste Discrimination, Nepal
Osafric Water Energy And Agricultural Conservation, Kenya
Global Zomi Alliance, Myanmar
Centre For Enhancing Democracy And Good Governance, Kenya
CSO Network, Kenya
Advocates for International Development, United Kingdom
Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, United Kingdom
Center for Economic and Social Rights, USA
WITNESS, USA
Kojain, USA
Global Rights: Partners for Justice, USA
Shenzhen Xiyan Communication Centre, China
WANA Forum, Jordan
Kenya Land Alliance, Kenya
Envision Consulting Group, Jordan
The Gulf Foundation, Netherlands
Integrated Smart Technologies, Oman
Regional Institute of Policy Research Training, Peshawar, Pakistan
World Energy Council, Jordan
Democracy and Workers’s Rights Center in Palestine, OPT
Palestinian Hydrology Group, OPT
Palestinian Environmental NGO Network
FOE Palestine, OPT
MUSAWA, OPT
Arab Women Organization, Jordan
Rural Support Programmes Network, Pakistan
Avocats Sans Frontières, Belgium
Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering, Lebanon
Law and Development Association, Zambia
RRA Thinktank, Columbia
CIVISOL Foundation for Systemic Change, Columbia
Association of Egyptian Female Lawyers (AEFL), Egypt
Midnight Blue, Hong Kong
3BL Associates, Bahrain
International Senior Lawyers Project, United Kingdom
Norwegian Refugee Council, Norway
Freedom Now, USA
Fair Trials International, United Kingdom
KEY, Bangladesh
HiiL – Innovating Justice, Netherlands
Centre for Youth Care and Human Rights Awareness, Nigeria
Asuda for Combating Violence Against Women, Iraq
Hotoro Women Development Association (HOWDA), Nigeria
The Foundation of Local Democracy, Bosmia & Herzegovina
Center for Civil Society Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina (CRCDBIH), Bosnia & Herzegovina
The Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya), Kenya
Justice and Women, Afghanistan
The Coalition Factory, Netherlands
Street Law South Africa, South Africa
Pro Igual, Spain
Corruption Brakes (Cobra) Crusade, Uganda
Association Tchadienne pour la Promotion et la Défense des Droits de l’Homme (ATPDH), Chad
Center for Political Ecology, USA
Voices Against Corruption, USA
APIK – Indonesian Women’s Association for Justice, Indonesia
Maksat Chambers, Nigeria
International Human Rights Commission, Netherlands
Bangladesh Legal Aid & Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh
Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), South Sudan
Construisons Ensemble le Monde, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Just Peace Initatives, Pakistan
Association for Democratic Initiatives, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Women to Women, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Prava za sve (Rights for All), Bosnia & Herzegovina
Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP), Pakistan
WILDAF/Mali, Afghanistan
Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, India
Center to Assist and Protect Child Rights of Nepal, Nepal
Transitional Justice Resource Center, Nepal
Sustainable Development Institute, Liberia
Indira Gandhi Integral Education Centre, India
Institute for Justice in Africa,United Kingdom
Alianza de Derecho Ambiental y Agua, Guatemala
PHALS, Bangladesh
Centre for Social Justice, India
Network Movement for Justice and Development, Sierra Leone
Humanist Watch Salone, Sierra Leone
Sustainable Law Institute, United Kingdom