In recognition of the fundamental principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) is dedicated to protecting the basic legal rights of ordinary citizens in developing countries. Specifically, IBJ works to guarantee all citizens the right to competent legal representation and Access to Justice, the right to be protected from cruel and unusual punishment, and the right to a fair trial. IBJ envisions a world where the basic legal rights of every man, woman and child are respected and each has access to justice.

International Bridges to Justice carries out its initiative through four main implementation methodologies: (1) Defender Capacity Building in which IBJ builds the key skills required for criminal defenders to perform their jobs professionally, safely, and with the greatest effect on the justice system (2) Defender Resource Centers, offices through which IBJ-trained lawyers provide legal defense services at the earliest possible stage of a criminal proceeding (3) Criminal Justice Reform, including roundtables to bring together all justice sector stakeholders to develop practical solutions to access to justice issues, while also breaking down barriers, building respect and promoting collegial relationships (4) Rights Awareness Campaigns, using posters, brochures, community education events, radio call-in shows and public service announcements to help individuals understand and gain access to their legal rights.IBJ also uses various on-line resources to aid with implementation including eLearning modules, IBJ’s Defense Wiki, and Lawyer 2 Lawyer. eLearning modules are worldwide, on-demand web-based eLearning courses which build key skills required for criminal defenders to perform their jobs effectively and uphold the rights of the accused. IBJ’s Criminal Defense Wiki brings codes, treaties, case law and other resources to lawyers throughout the world. The website is based on the same software as Wikipedia, and joins criminal defense practitioners, other lawyers and legal professionals, law students, and professors together from around the world to conduct research and develop cases with the most up to date resource materials possible. Finally, through Lawyer2Lawyer, IBJ cooperates with law firms, public defender’s offices, bar associations, law schools, and individual lawyers bringing resources to bear in countries where we work, helping local lawyer with training, mentorship and support. Lawyers in developed countries have resources that can have an immense impact when deployed where they are needed most.

IBJ has established a number of different methods to create its capacity building approach. First, IBJ’s “soft-governance” approach is unique in that it collaborates with governments instead of using more traditional, confrontational methods. In each of its programs, IBJ partners with various stakeholders and emphasizes capacity building. This empowers developing legal systems to implement their own reforms rather than relying on a permanent outsider presence. This strategy is so successful at creating sustainable change that the governments of more than twenty countries have actively solicited IBJ to launch programs to guide their judicial reform. Second, IBJ developed a Justice Hub, using technology to enhance its capacity building efforts. IBJ’s Justice Hub uses technology to combine each of IBJ’s programs together including its country programs, Government Hub, Youth Hub, Lawyer Hub, and many others. While IBJ has trained over 20,000 lawyers at live, in-person events, IBJ’s eLearning platform has reached over two million people. This technological edge, backed by a capacity building approach, is IBJ’s pivotal advantage in the fight against humanitarian abuse. IBJ has integrated sustainability and long-term capacity building into all of its programs. IBJ’s ultimate goal, through its capacity building process, is to develop sustainability in all of its programs. By training lawyers on legal and advocacy skills, community building, and the value of defense work, IBJ ensures that, when it leaves a country, a commitment to protecting the poor and vulnerable will remain. Secondly, by training future trainers with easy to replicate lessons, IBJ’s lawyers will be able to educate the next generation of lawyers. This practice creates a local community of lawyers that work together to increase pro bono work and act as a vocal advocate for human rights. Ultimately, IBJ’s capacity building plan is to build up a program, operate that program while the foundations are being solidified, and then transfer the program to the government of the area. Moving towards government ownership creates the sustainability that IBJ strives to accomplish and allows the programs to be shaped around the needs of each country moving towards the foreseeable future.

IBJ’s country programs operate in six different countries including Burundi, Cambodia, China, India, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe. Each program maintains a team on the ground consisting of country managers, various officers, and lawyers that work together to coordinate their activities. IBJ’s headquarters in Geneva coordinates with each of these programs to provide funding opportunities and access to other legal resources. On top of internal coordination, IBJ also works with governments, security forces, and other organizations on the ground. In addition to the country programs, IBJ’s global movement connects individuals within various communities to generate the resources necessary to move toward Access to Justice for all. For this process, IBJ collaborates with lawyers, youth, faiths, and governments through various technological platforms.

Abusua Foundation, Advocacy Forum, Afghanistan Human Rights Organization (AHRO), Afghanistan Independent Bar Association (AIBA), African Democracy Forum, African HIV in Prisons Partnership Network, AIDS Law Project, AIDSPortal, Alliance of Independent Journalists, American Bar, Association Rule of Law Initiative – Ecuador and Mexico, Ashoka, Asian Philanthropy Forum, Association of NGOs against Trafficking of Persons in Central Asia, AVERT, Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights, Be in Vision Pakistan, Bilal Law Associates, Centro Latinoamericano de Administración para el Desarrollo CILIC, CIVICUS, Columbia Law School, Committee for Social Justice, CUNY School of Law, Echoing Green, EDUCAF Cameroon, Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights