American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative

"#Ecuador made history when it included #environmental protections known as the 'Rights of Nature' (RON) in its 2008 Constitution—which are a series of amendments that treat the environment as a subject with rights rooted in the Kichwa (local Indigenous group) term 'sumak kawsay,' roughly translating to 'life in harmony.' Activists saw their ratification as crucial to shifting the country away from its historically extractive economy that brought environmental destruction, upended Indigenous communities, and embedded rampant inequality." Check out our latest intern op-ed by Noah Lowery, “Ecuador’s Rights of Nature and the Barriers to Sustainable Development", which offers ways to strengthen the RON towards promoting #sustainabledevelopment. 🌎 Read more: https://lnkd.in/erDKFCc9

As 2024 comes to a close and we enter a new year, the ABA Center for Global Programs, including the ABA's Rule of Law Initiative and the American Bar Association Center for Human Rights, would like to extend a heartfelt #thankyou to all who have supported us this year and for the years to come—our donors; staff; consultants; pro bono volunteers; Board Members; partners and counterparts around the world, including civil society organizations and government agencies; and countless others. In 2024, CGP's work spanned more than 60 countries with over 90 programs from #Guatemala, #Angola, #TimorLeste, #Ukraine, and #Jordan — to name a few — addressing critical issues in the rule of law and human rights fields, such as women's economic security, freedom of expression, gender-based violence, legal education empowerment, and the protection of human rights defenders.

Check out the #latestnews from the American Bar Association Center for Human Rights and Clooney Foundation for Justice's TrialWatch program—the release of their Monitoring Prosecutions under the PFGM Act in Kenya report. The report is based on in-person trial monitoring and a review of 68 criminal cases from multiple locations across #Kenya.

#ProgramUpdates: Today, our team in #TheGambia is facilitating a training session on identifying trafficking in persons (TIP) cases and referral pathways; with participants from civil society organizations working on TIP and members of the Gambian police force and Drug Law and Enforcement Agency. The session is organized through ABA ROLI's Countering Trafficking in Persons program in The Gambia and in partnership with the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons. Our program is funded by the U.S. Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, with the aim to address the capacity gaps in prosecuting traffickers, protecting trafficked and vulnerable populations, and preventing trafficking across the country.

Founded in 2001, the American Bar Association Center for Human Rights (CHR) supports human rights defenders (HRDs) around the world who face ongoing harassment, threats, and criminal charges in retaliation for their legitimate rights work. CHR has worked in more than 65 countries to support HRDs—just one of their several key areas of work. Follow their LinkedIn to keep up to date on their work to support the ABA's fourth goal: advance the rule of law!

Spotlight 📣 #HumanRightsDay The ABA Center for Global Programs—composed of ABA ROLI, the American Bar Association Center for Human Rights, and the ABA UN Committee—understands that the true test of a legal system is its ability to secure and protect rights and liberties for its constituents. We work to advance #humanrights by advocating for appropriate legal frameworks that protect rights, supporting human rights defenders who are often targeted because of their work, and collaborating with national and local human rights mechanisms and institutions to connect survivors with acceptable justice mechanisms. With support from our donors, examples of our #humanrights work include: ⚖️ Supporting Ukrainians to achieve #justice using transitional justice tools and other human rights-based approaches; 🚺 Addressing barriers to women's participation in #economic life in Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Guatemala, and Mexico; 💻 Expanding experts knowledge on the core values of #digitalprivacy and exploring approaches to protect and promote digital privacy in Asia and Africa; 📃 Strengthening the legal and policy framework for migrant workers’ rights in the #Maldives; 🌳 Enhancing the regional work of #EnvironmentalDefenders and civil society leaders in the Amazonian regions of Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela; and 🗣️ Bolstering the capacities of local and national authorities to develop and implement reconciliation initiatives and #transitionaljustice processes in #Tunisia; 🤝 Supporting human rights #defenders worldwide through litigation assistance, research, and advocacy campaigns; and 👷 Working globally with governments, through strategic engagement, to increase their capacity to enforce #laborlaws. Check out more about our human rights work here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e-Ge34Ps

Join ABA-CGP's dynamic team! The American Bar Association-Center for Global Programs is looking for candidates for multiple positions. Visit bit.ly/abarolicareers to learn more!

#ProgramSpotlight: Legal Reform Fund program in #Indonesia 🌏 Under our global Legal Reform Fund program funded by the U.S. Department of State - Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues, ABA ROLI and Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional RI (BRIN RI), Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, researched the handling of workplace #sexualharassment and #discrimination cases in #Indonesia. Findings reveal victims/survivors do not report most cases, and among those reported, even fewer are resolved through the judicial process. This is due to gender bias and lack of awareness among legal service providers on gender equality, workplace rights, survivor-centered care, evidence, recovery, and restitution. To address these challenges, ABA ROLI is collaborating with the Judicial Reform Team of Indonesia’s Supreme Court in preparing a policy brief for the Women and Children Working Group of the Supreme Court to raise awareness and use of Undang-undang Tindak Pidana Kekerasan Seksual (UU TPKS, i.e., the Law on Sexual Violence Crimes). UU TPKS provides victim/survivor restitution, reduces the burden of evidence on the victim/survivor, and requires investigators, public prosecutors, and judges to practice trauma-informed approaches to avoid revictimization. Within the judiciary, the policy brief recommends developing practical guidelines for judges, building the capacity of judges and relevant actors on handling these types of cases; strengthening employee conduct and supervisory regulations; establishing victim/survivor confidentiality and protection mechanisms; formalizing special investigation teams; and improving coordination with the police. ABA ROLI is planning a socialization training session to build the capacity of judges nationwide to provide restitution and effectively handle workplace sexual harassment cases that promote survivor/victim protection and recovery. Further, ABA ROLI is working with LBH APIK Jakarta to develop a specialized training for #laborunions which provide support to sexual harassment victims/survivors within various institutions. The training will cover handling workplace sexual harassment cases with a particular focus on UU TPKS. Ensuring a unified understanding and implementation standard of UU TPKS among relevant stakeholders is crucial for implementation and promoting victim/survivor protection and restitution. #GBV #16DaysofActivism Pictured: 1-3: ABA ROLI held a stakeholder validation meeting in August 2024 to validate findings of its research with BRIN on handling sexual violence and harassment cases. 4: ABA ROLI met with the Supreme Court of Indonesia in August 2024 to discuss research findings on handling sexual harassment and discrimination cases.

Join ABA-CGP's dynamic team! The American Bar Association-Center for Global Programs is looking for candidates for multiple positions. Visit bit.ly/abarolicareers to learn more!

Today we recognize the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the United Nations #16DaysofActivism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign, running from November 25th to December 10th. In support of this initiative, we join forces in addressing the global pandemic of violence against women and girls. Over the next couple of weeks, we will share ABA ROLI's work under its Gender and Social Inclusion technical area, where we address #womenempowerment, #gbv, and #vulnerable populations, among others ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eXZjNUhr