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How Paralegals Delivered Access to Justice in the Jails of Sierra Leone Grantee Spotlight
Timap for Justice sent community-based paralegals into police stations in Sierra Leone. The result? Around half the people they helped were released on bail; more than a quarter saw charges dropped altogether.
Lawyer at the Police Station Door: How REPLACE Provides Legal Aid in Nigeria
This 12-page illustrated brochure summarizes the successes achieved by a project that used duty solicitors to give detainees in Nigerian police stations early access to legal advice.
Innovative Efforts, Proven Results: How Timap for Justice Provides Legal Aid in Sierra Leone
This 12-page illustrated brochure summarizes the successes achieved by a community paralegal project in Sierra Leone that focused on providing front-line legal aid to pretrial detainees.
Changing Places: A Former Prosecutor on the Grand Jury
After serving on a grand jury in Brooklyn, New York, a former federal prosecutor reflects on the experience, and sees a need for reform.
Mexico Must Address “Widespread” Enforced Disappearances
The Open Society Justice Initiative is urging the Mexican government to respond positively to a highly critical international assessment of its response to a continuing epidemic of enforced disappearances.
Legal Aid in Europe: Minimum Requirements under International Law
This briefing paper summarizes the current minimum international legal standards on the right to legal aid, drawing on European human rights law and global principles and standards.
Case Watch: ECHR and UK Find a Compromise on “Whole Life” Sentences
An ECHR ruling on “whole life sentences” shows how a heated confrontation with the UK has been resolved through constructive judicial dialogue.
New Document Throws More Light on Mexico’s San Fernando Killings
A newly released document from the investigation into the 2010–11 massacres of migrants in San Fernando paints a picture of official connections to organized crime.
European Rights Court Seeks Answers from Russia in Magnitsky Case
The European Court of Human Rights has taken up a complaint filed by the family of Sergei Magnitsky, the whistle-blowing Russian lawyer who died in 2009 while in pre-trial detention.
Judicial Independence Under Threat in Guatemala
Recent events have shown that Guatemala’s justice system is still subject to powerful political and economic interests.
Justice in Guatemala: New Efforts, Continuing Threats
Almost 20 years after the end of Guatemala’s bitter civil war, victims of human rights atrocities are still waiting for offenders to be brought to justice. Their quest is now at a critical crossroads.
European Court of Human Rights Calls on Spain to Strengthen Safeguards against Torture
The ruling in Etxebarria Caballero v. Spain emphasizes the obligations states have to protect suspects in police stations from torture and ill-treatment.
Case Watch: European Court Strengthens Anti-Torture Safeguards
A ruling on Spain’s use of incommunicado detention for terrorism suspects calls for safeguards to ensure that suspects are protected from the risk of torture.
Mexico’s Federal Prosecutor Must End Secrecy over San Fernando Massacres
Under Mexico’s new information laws, the federal prosecutors are not allowed to keep files on human rights abuses secret.
Why the Overuse of Pretrial Detention Is an Overlooked Human Rights Crisis
Every year, millions find themselves behind bars, awaiting trial on criminal charges—victims of what is perhaps the most overlooked human rights crisis of our time: the overuse of pretrial detention.
Presumption of Guilt: 15 Arresting Facts about the Overuse of Pretrial Detention
There are an estimated 3.3 million people in jails around the world awaiting trial, or the finalization of a trial, at any one time—roughly a third of the world’s prison population. Many don’t need to be there.
Presumption of Guilt: The Global Overuse of Pretrial Detention
Combining statistical analysis, first-person accounts, graphics, and case studies of successful reforms, this report is the first ever global survey of the damage done by unnecessary and arbitrary pretrial detention.
Moving Forwards a Global Vision for Legal Aid
The UN has recognized the vital role legal aid plays in delivering access to justice for all. Now it needs to monitor implementation of its Principles and Guidelines.
Effective Prosecution: Guatemala’s Public Ministry in an International Context
Remarks delivered at the launch of an independent assessment of reforms in prosecutorial procedures at Guatemala's Public Ministry.
Guatemala Urged to Continue Public Prosecutor Reforms
A new report says reforms at Guatemala’s Public Ministry have resulted in “a significant improvement in criminal prosecutions."