IBJ is proud to announce that three bar associations within Syria have officially adopted the IBJ Syria Defender Manual as a core legal education resource. The IBJ Syria Defender Manual, the first of its kind for the country, will continue to help Syrian lawyers to provide quality legal representation to vulnerable individuals in Syria. Three bar associations in Syria — Aleppo, Homs, and Hama — have recognized the Defender Manual as a “scientific reference for lawyers … and for those who are interested in [studying] the law and criminal justice.” These three bar associations will use this manual as a key document to train lawyers on fundamental rights of the accused, duties, rights and the responsibilities of the defense lawyer, and representing clients traumatized by torture.

Members of the Defender Manual Review Committee

Muhammad Bakri, IBJ’s Syria Program Coordinator noted, “this is such a huge milestone for IBJ Syria and the Syrian legal community. It shows that we are making a positive impact on the lives of ordinary Syrians not only today, but for years to come as an entire generation of lawyers will receive this valuable information and put it to good use.”

IBJ’s Syria program was launched in November of 2017. Despite the tenacious efforts of pro bono lawyers in Syria, thousands of vulnerable Syrians are deprived of legal protection. IBJ has been actively working with and supporting Syrian lawyers (using resources like the IBJ Syria Defense Manual) across the country to ensure that every woman, man and child accused of a crime is judged fairly in a court of law and reduce instances of abuse during detention.

The Committee of Lawyers that Reviewed the Syria Defender Manual 

About International Bridges to Justice (IBJ)

Founded in 2000 by Karen Tse — an American lawyer and ordained minister — International Bridges to Justice is a nongovernmental organization that seeks to guarantee all individuals the right to competent legal representation, the right to be protected from cruel and unusual punishment, and the right to a fair trial. IBJ currently has country programs in Burundi, Cambodia, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Mexico, Myanmar, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Syria, and Zimbabwe.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call International Bridges to Justice at +41(0) 22 731 2441 or email internationalbridges@ibj.org. To keep up to date with IBJ’s activities, follow us on Facebook!

The content of the manual will be jointly developed by an international expert in the field of criminal defense and a team of local experts, nominated by the national Bar associations, who are best poised to make sure that cultural and country-specific issues are tackled in the manual.  The manual will outline best practices and advocacy techniques with a focus on enhancing legal knowledge, practical defense skills – particularly trial skills, education on international norms and standards and some examples of their domestic implementation in all five countries. It will include practical tips about ways to mount a vigorous defense and include forms, checklists, and memos to help lawyers prepare and manage their cases.

It will be distributed through the national Bar Associations of the member countries and will be available online on the EALS website and IBJ’s Elearning platform. A French version will also be made available for Francophone lawyers in Rwanda and Burundi. We expect the first draft of the manual to be completed by April 2011.

Download the IBJ English/French Legal Lexicon

IBJ is committed to contributing to the growing regional integration in other ways aswell. On November 19 and 20, the EALS is hosting its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Bujumbura, Burundi. IBJ Rwanda and Burundi Fellows John Bosco and Astère and IBJ Burundian Legal Fellows Aline Nijimbere and Janvier Ncamatwi will participate in the lively discussions that will undoubtedly take place, strengthening the relationship with the East Africa legal community. Furthermore, IBJ has produced a glossary of English/French legal terms for the use of East Africa Francophone lawyers which will facilitate the integration of Rwanda and Burundi into the Anglophone East Africa Community. We are hoping to distribute copies of the glossary at the EALS AGM.

Furthermore, this cooperation is an excellent opportunity for IBJ to establish a base to promote access to legal counsel and human rights across East African countries. With this project we have laid the first foundations for a possible East Africa Defender Resource Hub which will support – both at the national and regional level – criminal defender trainings as well as the implementation of coordinated answers to the challenges of the criminal justice system  throughout East Africa. This way, we will reduce the prevalence of torture in pretrial detention and help the accused in East Africa. Therefore, we are very excited to kickstart the development of the manual and future cooperation in East Africa and thank the International Bar Association for their support.

Above: John Bosco (left), IBJ Rwanda Fellow and Astère (right), IBJ Burundi Fellow at the EALS 2009 AGM where the foundations for cooperation between the EALS and IBJ were laid

Above: Astère (left) and Bruce Kyerere, the Uganda Law Society President at the 2009 EALS AGM (Photo by John Bosco Bugingo)

Above: Astère (right) with Dr. Fauz Twaib, the Tanzania Law Society President at the 2009 EALS AGM (Photo by John Bosco Bugingo)