Standing Together for Equality, Justice and Human Dignity

Every year on 10 December Human Rights Day is observed: The day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

This year, Human Rights Day marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document proclaiming inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

It is the most translated document in the world, available in more than 500 languages and was drafted by representatives of diverse legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world. The Declaration sets out universal values and a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. It establishes the equal dignity and worth of every person. Thanks to the Declaration, and States’ commitments to its principles, the dignity of millions has been uplifted and the foundation for a more just world has been laid.

IBJ Fighting for Due Process Rights for All Citizens

In recognition of the fundamental principles of the UDHR International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) is dedicated to protecting the basic legal rights of ordinary citizens in developing countries. IBJ specifically works to guarantee all citizens due process rights:

The right to competent legal representation, the right to be protected from torture, cruel and unusual punishment as well as the right to a fair trial.

While the full promise of the UDHR is yet to be realized, the very fact that it has stood the test of time is testament to the enduring universality of its perennial values of equality, justice and human dignity. IBJ continues to its work with defense lawyers, state institutions, legal aid organizations, community-based organizations, and other interested stakeholders to fulfil its mission. In effecting sustainable criminal justice transformation IBJ focuses on four main themes: Defender capacity building, institutional capacity strengthening, legal representation to accused persons, including victims of torture, and awareness.  IBJ’s approach – taking action by defending the rights of every woman, man and child – promotes the essence of the UDHR: Kinship of all human beings.

The principles enshrined in the Declaration are as relevant today as they were in 1948 and the UDHR empowers us all.  As a global movement of justice-makers IBJ will continue its work to end investigative torture in the 21st century and strengthen the rule of law across the world.

After extensive fundraising efforts, IBJ sent a team of 10 lawyers; one dance teacher, a comedian and two music teachers from Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS), an NGO based in Battambang working with arts and the youth; two American-Cambodian refugees and former American prisoners – Kosal Khiev, a spoken word artist, who found rehabilitation through creative arts projects while incarcerated for 15 years and Louen Lun, who works with at risk youth in Siem Reap; Reaksmey Yean a prominent young Cambodian artists based in Phnom Penh; and Steve Tierney and Alix Buck, two foreign NGO workers working with the arts and the youth in Phnom Penh.

The atmosphere was electric as we arrived early in the morning.  We explained the purpose of the day and encouraged them to have fun and get involved.  A majority of these men, women and children would have never held a paint brush.  After a brief explanation they broke off into different workshops that interested them and with the music loud in the background it soon because a real human rights day party.  Trust and confidence grew as the shyness from the unknown disappeared.  Paintings started to hang from the walls as human rights flags were strung up like Lungta-style Tibetan prayer flags.  The prison burst with colour.

The four boys from PPS filled the courtyard with music, magic tricks and dancing.  Kosal, Louen and Reaksmey conducted art workshops using plywood, paper and acrylic paints.  Using screen printing, Steve and Alix prepared human rights flags where the prisoners could learn about human rights and write messages related to human rights.  Messages included promises of becoming better men upon release from prison, requests for shorter prison terms while in pre trial detention and others which were simply messages of thanks to IBJ, like “I am happy when you come here”.  The purpose was to bring human rights to Pursat prison and so on 10 December the prisoners were all transformed into budding arts students.

“Ï was really excited when I heard that you were coming.  It was such a fun day and I was really happy to participate.  Please come again.” – A young man in Pursat prison

What was initially scheduled as a two hour workshop went well over three hours.  Prisoners and prison guards came together and were all involved.  Finally at 11am it was time for the fish noodle soup meals we had provided all the prisoners and guards.  Despite its brevity, the success of the event was apparent according to inmates’ thanks and requests to come again.  Having left arts materials up in Pursat – we will bring arts and culture to Pursat again!

*Kate Flower is a volunteer with the Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) Program. The AVID Program is an Australian Government, AusAID initiative.

*Photos by samjamphotos

Above: Rural populations gather around the IBJ team to get aware of the provisions of the newly revised penal code in case of arrest. Photo: courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Bouzard. 

 This campaign was a resounding success, thanks to the noteworthy support of our partner APRODH, which had recruited several local volunteers who generously helped IBJ staff. Local authorities expressed their support to this legal education initiative, and also contributed to the awareness-raising effort. In this extent, posters outlining people’ rights at time of arrest were displayed in several public places, such as the prosecutor’s office, the courthouse and other Cibitoke public offices.

Above : IBJ Fellow Astère Muyango explaining Human rights to a Burundian man, under the gaze of curious children. Photo: courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Bouzard.

Thanks to this precious help, the day ended with a lot of hope. Rural populations, often more vulnerable to abuses than populations in Bujumbura, were engaged about their legal rights at that time of arrest. IBJ team split in stands across the town to reach out to a maximum number of people. Banners which read “Liberty is the rule, arrest and detention is the exception” in Kirundi where displayed at strategic locations. Short questionnaires were handed out to people, which enabled to measure the level of the population’s knowledge regarding its basic legal rights. Then, people attracting people, many citizens spontaneously joined the group surrounding IBJ team, curious to to found out what the campaign was all about and to learn new things. Overall, 120 people were interviewed, and the number of people sensitized about their rights is estimated to be up to 577. Besides, little cards and posters, written in Kirundi, were distributed. The campaign clearly answered a curiosity that had remained unmet until now: rural populations left IBJ team with copies of the poster that they promised to distribute within their neighborhoods and communities.

Above: The hope of a new generation which has the skill to assert its rights. Photo: courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Bouzard.

On this special occasion, IBJ intends to remind international, national and local communities of its particular approach to human rights – protecting the legal rights of the people who become victims of unchecked justice systems – and renew its commitment to fair justice systems through a series of consciousness-raising activities across its country programs.

IBJ West Bengal Fellow Abhijit Datta is embarking its organization, MASUM (Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha), in a large human rights fair that will be held this coming Thursday at the vicinity of Academy of Fine Arts of Kolkata. Abhijit rallied support from other grassroots civil rights and human rights organizations. Together, they will coordinate exciting awareness-raising activities: an art exhibition will depict pictures of human rights violations; booklets, publications and other materials informing citizens of their legal rights will be widely distributed; public orations – including testimonies of victims of abuses – will be organized throughout the day. Big awareness-raising banners will be displayed at strategic places at the Indo-Bangladesh border, where minority tribes are particularly vulnerable to human rights violations.

Above: Burundian kids hold a poster reading “Burundi moves forward against torture” during the 26th of June rights awareness campaign in Bujumbura (Photo by Nathalie Mohadjer)

Abhijit’s efforts will be echoed by Astère’s, IBJ Burundi Fellow. IBJ Burundi team left yesterday for the North-West province of Cibitoke where a street law campaign will be conducted. The team will be dispatched at strategic places of the city and will engage the local population in constructive discussions about their rights and responsibilities within the justice system. Men, women and children will be put in the situation of being arrested for a petty crime and asked what they think their legal rights are. Eventually, an engaging poster and memo card about their rights at time of arrest will be handed out to them. A round table discussion on alternative sanctions to imprisonment will be conducted the day after. The platform will unite legal practitioners with magistrates, prosecutors, police officers and prison officials and put them on a path towards reforming the justice system.

A similar on-street canvassing advisement of rights campaign will be organized in Cambodia, where IBJ Fellow Ouk Vandeth and the rest of the team will capitalize on the 25 campaigns held throughout 2009 to make sure local population are best approached, engaged and educated about their legal rights in case of arrest.