This inspiring event showcased the courageous work of one of our Indonesian JusticeMakers Fellows, Joan Patricia Walu Riwu Kaho (“Puput”). The film follows Puput as she defends a woman who experienced sexual assault, but was herself accused of a crime – adultery. Such systemic criminalisation of women is all too common in Indonesia and many other countries. The film captures Puput’s dedication and resilience, as well as those of our other Indonesian JusticeMakers Fellows, while underscoring the immense work still needed to achieve equal protection for women under the law. The film reminds us why we must keep fighting every day to advance access to justice for women and girls around the world.

Following the screening, IBJ hosted a panel discussion moderated by IBJ Founder, Karen Tse, with Puput herself sharing her thoughts on the film; Sandrine Giroud, President of the Geneva Bar Association; Atalanti Moquette, Founder of Giving Women; Caitlin Kraft-Buchman, Founder of Women at the Table; and Ratna Batara Munti from Komnas Perempuan. Panelists reflected on the importance of amplifying women’s voices in justice systems and advancing meaningful reform.

Overall, it was a memorable event that brought together thoughtful reflections and a shared commitment to advancing justice and equal protection for women and girls worldwide.

IBJ thanks The Video Consortium and the Skoll Foundation for their support in bringing this important film to life.

Geneva, Switzerland – 3 March 2026  International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) will host the virtual premiere of its short documentary, “Beats of Justice,” on 3 March 2026 (13:00 CET / 07:00 ET / 19:00 Jakarta / 20:00 Bali/Kupang/Singapore), in recognition of International Women’s Day.

The film follows Indonesian defense lawyer Joan Patricia Walu Riwu Kaho (“Puput”) of LBH APIK Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara as she defends a sexual assault survivor accused of adultery, highlighting the systemic barriers women face in accessing justice.

“No one should be imprisoned for surviving assault,” said Karen Tse, Founder and CEO of IBJ. “This film shines a light on the courage of lawyers like Puput who stand beside vulnerable women and fight for justice.”

The premiere will be followed by a live panel discussion, where we will be joined by Puput herself, and a Q&A. Speakers include:

• Sandrine Giroud, President of the Geneva Bar Association (ODAGE)
• Joan Patricia Walu Sudjiati Riwu Kaho (“Puput”), Protagonist/IBJ JusticeMakers Fellow
• Caitlin Kraft-Buchman, CEO/Founder of Women at the Table
• Ratna Batara Munti, Commissioner of the Indonesian National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan)
• Atalanti Moquette, Action Philanthropist for Giving Women
• Hilde Schwab, Co-Founder and Chair of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
• Marie Suggitt, Country Manager of International Bridges to Justice Indonesia
• Karen Tse, Founder/CEO of International Bridges to Justice. 

Registration is free and open to the public:
https://videoconsortium.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DtQHKVYQQd225A1y2mR2Vw#/registration

Media Contact:
Karen Tse, Founder and CEO, International Bridges to Justice
internationalbridges@ibj.org

In particular, the AAJT project focused on three core pillars: training, legal representation, and awareness.

First, IBJ trained legal defenders to build their skills in representing accused individuals from vulnerable communities. The program targeted young lawyers in Tunis and was delivered through four group sessions, covering key topics such as international standards on the rights of accused persons, responsibilities of defense lawyers, Tunisian legal practices, and interview techniques for tortured or traumatized clients. Participants gained practical skills that prepared them to address the complex challenges of criminal defense work.

Across these sessions, IBJ worked directly with 115 lawyers to strengthen their skills in criminal defense and rights-based representation, focusing especially on defending marginalized individuals. Women accounted for 56% of participants. Although the trainings were short-term, they provided practical tools that participants could immediately apply in their defense work. In post-training surveys, 100% of respondents reported increased confidence in their criminal defense knowledge. This demonstrates the program’s role in building the technical capacity of a more diverse group of legal defenders committed to serving vulnerable communities.

To support lasting impact, IBJ also developed the Tunisia Criminal Defence Practice Manual, which contains detailed, locally relevant guidance for lawyers at each stage of the litigation process. The Manual incorporates insight from diverse justice-sector stakeholders in Tunisia. It is available online, and IBJ has distributed 1,000 physical copies across the country.

Second, AAJT sought to improve respect for due process and fair trial rights by facilitating early access to justice. After the training program concluded, IBJ formed a task force of lawyers who went on to represent 256 marginalized accused individuals by February 2025, exceeding the original goal of 250 cases. Thanks to collaboration with Forum Tunisien des Droits Économiques et Sociaux (FTDES) and the Young Lawyers’ Association of Tunisia (ATJA), the task force was able to reach vulnerable communities throughout Tunisia. IBJ also worked with civil society leaders and local partners to launch the Tunisian JusticeHub app in April 2024. This tool helped lawyers manage cases more efficiently through integrated case calendars and task management features, supporting access to legal services.

Third, AAJT worked to raise public awareness of due process rights under Tunisian and international human rights law. In September 2023, IBJ and UNDEF successfully launched the Rights Awareness Campaign in Tunis, shining a spotlight on defendants’ rights. Starting in May 2024, IBJ partnered with the U.S.-based National Center for State Courts (NCSC) and the Institut Arabe des Droits de l’Homme (IADH) to air and rebroadcast four radio episodes on the rights of the accused, and launch a Know Your Rights social media campaign. IBJ also worked with an influencer specializing in legal awareness to create short social media thematic shows. In total, the Rights Awareness Campaign reached an estimated 30,000 to 90,000 people via radio, and over 850,000 via social media, surpassing the original target of 500,000.

Overall, the AAJT project has made a meaningful impact on Tunisia’s legal community by enhancing the skills of defenders and broadening access to quality legal representation for vulnerable populations. By equipping legal professionals with practical tools and a deeper understanding of the rights of the accused, the project has helped build a stronger, more inclusive justice system. At the same time, the development of vital resources and increased public awareness mark important steps toward lasting reform, creating momentum for continued progress in ensuring justice for all Tunisians.

Randall was placed in judicial custody until Advocate Ajay Verma, who is the Senior Fellow of IBJ and the head of IBJ India Trust, filed his bail application. Meanwhile, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM), the designated court for extradition conducted an enquiry under the Extradition Act, upon the application filed by the Government of India. He was granted bail by the Delhi High Court in February 2018. Verma represented Randall when he participated in the extradition enquiry.

Extradition request alleged that Randall committed offences which caused the death of Allya Siska Nadya by negligence in August 2015 after giving chiropractic treatment in Jakarta.  Later in the evening, the patient experienced severe pain on her back and neck and was admitted to the Emergency Department of a hospital in Jakarta. Next day she was declared dead at the hospital.

Ajay Verma contested that there was no prima facie case for causing death by negligence. He contested that the death occurred due to the medication administered by the Hospital in Jakarta and not by Randall’s chiropractic treatment. He further argued that the proximity of death was closer with the drugs administered, than that of the treatment. Also that the autopsy was not conducted immediately as warranted by the Indonesian Criminal Procedure Code, and was done when the body was in advance stage of decay, four months after the death. It was further submitted that the forensic report does not suggest that the death of the victim occurred due to Chiropractic therapy.

After eight years of the case being tried, the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Pranav Joshi discharged Randall on 6^th March 2025 stating, “Prima facie against FC (fugitive criminal) Randall John Cafferty is not made out in respect of the offence under relevant sections of the Penal Code of Indonesian and FC stands discharged.”

When Ajay Verma heard about Randall’s case, he took immediate action. And it is because of Ajay Verma’s diligence as well as deep commitment to his client that Randall is a free man and can fly back to America and be reunited with his family. Being wrongfully accused is terrifying, but being stranded on foreign soil can be a deeply traumatising experience. Timely and quality legal representation by Ajay Verma has resulted in realising justice. And Ajay Verma has been leading IBJ’S work in India since the organisation began its work in 2008.  He has been instrumental in training over 26,825 defense lawyers in India and providing legal representation to over 3000 individuals in the last 24 years.

Roundtable Schedule – Panels, Discussions, and Speeches
The roundtable event opened with welcoming remarks from Me. John Bosco Bugingo, President of Rwanda Bridges to Justice, and Karen Tse, CEO of IBJ. Dr. Žygimantas Juška, Economic Attaché at the European Union (EU) Delegation, followed with a speech highlighting the EU’s steadfast commitment to promoting human rights and justice in Rwanda. An address was given by Mrs. Umurungi Providence, Chairperson of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), who commended the strong collaboration between NCHR and RBJ in advancing human rights initiatives.
The event featured two panel discussions, each tackling critical issues within Rwanda’s justice system. The first panel, moderated by Me. Nkundabarashi Moise, President of the Rwanda Bar Association, focused on the achievements of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the future direction of the Advancing Human Rights in Rwanda project. Panelists voiced concerns over the current lack of legal assistance available, particularly for vulnerable populations and youth, and discussed how coordinating efforts across organizations can address this gap. A senior prosecutor and an Inspector General of National Prosecution Authority, Mr. Ntete Jules Marius from the audience promoted the use of alternative dispute resolution methods to reduce case backlogs.
The second panel spotlighted UPR Advocacy Champions, featuring organizations like Citizen Rights and Development, Empower Rwanda, Stand for People Sustainable Development, and the Rwanda Organisation of Persons with Deaf Blindness. These groups shared their experiences and strategies in promoting human rights under the UPR framework.
The event concluded with closing remarks from RBJ Program Manager and IBJ International Program Director, Mr. Sanjeewa Liyanage, who expressed gratitude to the participants for their open-minded discussions. He highlighted the mutual respect and trust that have become the foundation of collaboration within Rwanda’s legal community and the need to work collaboratively and constructively to sustain system change in advancing access to justice.

Notable Successes of Previous Roundtables
Our four previous roundtable events have yielded significant and tangible results, demonstrating the power of collaborative dialogue in driving policy change. At our inaugural roundtable, three recommendations that emerged from the discussions, among many others, were swiftly adopted by policymakers.
The first recommendation was the incorporation of progressive alternatives to detention into Rwanda’s criminal justice framework. Responding to community demands for options such as probation, rehabilitation, and treatment, the Ministry of Justice introduced Article 3.4.7 into the new criminal code. This amendment enshrines the principle of imprisonment as a last resort, reflecting a more humane approach to criminal justice.
In another vital development, the roundtable recommended the need for better training for correctional officers in addressing trauma and mental health issues among detainees. As a result, the Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) initiated courses on human rights and mental health for its staff, ensuring that correctional officers are better equipped to manage these issues.
Finally, in response to our recommendation for increased access to early legal services–part of IBJ’s core mission—Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) collaborated with law firms and civil society organizations, resulting in 72% of all handled cases receiving early assistance by a defense lawyer.

Role of Roundtables
The roundtables are a key facet of the Advancing Human Rights in Rwanda project, spearheaded by RBJ. In its opening two years, the initiative has already conducted six training sessions, provided legal assistance and representation to 836 detainees, and offered psychosocial support to 870 inmates. During their presentation, Willis Odhiambo Okul and Vincent Tengeye Makokha noted the remarkable progress the project has made in empowering civil society leaders, human rights defenders, and service providers, enhancing the capacity of justice stakeholders across the board.
Furthermore, roundtables serve as a point of discussion for how to implement the United Nations’ (UN) Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations. The UPR process, a comprehensive review of the human rights record of all UN member states, offers a detailed framework for improving human rights in Rwanda. However, as Mr. William Ndengeyingoma from the Ministry of Justice highlighted during his speech, the recommendations are often highly technical and require careful interpretation and a coordinated effort for effective implementation.
The roundtable format provides a collaborative environment where justice community members can strategize on how to best align Rwanda’s justice practices with these global standards. Additionally, it gave the opportunity to spotlight the trailblazing work of UPR Advocacy Champions, individuals who  have worked tirelessly to set the groundwork for UPR implementation in their communities. For example, the organization Empower Rwanda emphasized their work in combating gender-based violence and promoting gender equality through local awareness campaigns.
These discussions play a crucial role in bridging the gaps between various stakeholders in the justice sector. By facilitating a platform for dialogue, participants gain insights into the challenges and perspectives unique to each segment of the system. This exchange not only enhances mutual understanding but also ensures that innovative ideas for justice reform are heard and realized.