IBJ received pictures from over 16 different countries and 4 continents! We are thankful for the outpouring of support IBJ has received internationally, from individuals and groups alike, giving us strength to build our vision of a just and peaceful world. The success of the Interfaith Peace Vigil Worldwide and CitiesForJustice campaigns remain a central  force behind our global effort to eradicate torture in the 21st century.

John Bosco Bugingo, IBJ Rwanda Fellow in Kigali

Marlon Zakeyo, Former IBJ Africa Program Officer, Johannesburg Area, South Africa

IBJ JusticeMakers Fellow, Patrick Dunkwu in Lagos, Nigeria

IBJ Zimbabwe Fellow Innocent Maja at the Interfaith Peace Vigil held in Harare on June 26th

Youth Scholar Ethan Swift in front of the Merlion statue in Singapore

IBJ’s team at Bell & Drum towers in Beijing, China

Youth Scholar Daniel Fung Jr. holding a vigil at his home with family and friends in Hong Kong

Members of Justice Centre Hong Kong organizing a vigil in solidarity with IBJ

Red Square in Moscow, Russia

Youth Scholar Jihun Hong holding an Interfaith Peace Vigil for family and friends in Seoul, South Korea

Former IBJ Staff David Zhou in Toronto, Canada

India Peace Centre in Maharashtra, India

Swami Agnivesh of India at the Inter-Faith Vigil at Jantar Mantar Road, New Delhi, India

IBJ India Fellow, Ajay Verma and IBJ staff member Courtney Skiles in New Delhi, India

IBJ India Fellow Ajay Verma at a Tibetan temple in Delhi, India

Unitarian Universalists, Geneva, Switzerland

IBJ interns Geneva, Switzerland

Staff of Human Rights and Development Foundation of Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand

IBJ JusticeMakers Fellow  Judge Mahfuza Folad organized a vigil in Kabul, Afghanistan and invited judges, police, prosecutors, school children, and community representatives

IBJ Cambodia staff led by Cambodia Fellow Ouk Vandeth at an interfaith peace vigil organized in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Empire State Building in New York City USA

Former IBJ staff Jamila Justine Willis at Times Square, New York City USA

UN in New York, USA

International Program Director Sanjeewa Liyanage with former IBJ staff in Washington DC USA

Dallas, Texas USA

Shawna Foster in Omaha, Nebraska USA

Meadville Lombard students, Chicago, IL USA

Rev. Joanna Crawford, USA

Rev. Eric Posa, USA

Rev. Patrice Curtis, USA

Rev. Meg Riley, USA

Rev. Hank Pierce, USA

Youth raising awareness in Santa Monica, California USA

Guest Speaker and Founding IBJ Board Member Mia Yamamoto with local organizers Judith Lyons and Charlene Huang in Santa Monica, California USA

Milli Barendse in front of a Dutch windmill in Vlissingen, the Netherlands

Pawan Rauf in front of the Erasmusbrug in Rotterdam, the Netherlands

While some non- legal enthusiasts remained silent, I found myself abruptly replying, “Yes! definitely.”

My rationale was clear. For most JD candidates in the United States, the reality is that summers are usually filled with lists of Corporate opportunities, and some occasional academic ones. For others like me, a graduate student concentrating in international law, human rights and transitional justice at Columbia University School of International Affairs, the usual outlet for internships are advocacy-oriented NGOs or the United Nations. But IBJ has presented new opportunities.

In fact, upon hearing of International Bridges to Justice, I did not hesitate to apply in early Spring. Instead, I withdrew my applications at other places, and turned down opportunities at the UN and the Clinton Foundation to work on issues that I really care about. I was excited by the opportunity to work for a non profit that was legal oriented and rooted in criminal justice reform.

As for JusticeMakers, if presented with an opportunity like this at Columbia, I would whole-heartedly apply, as it would ideally prepare me with a foundation to pursue the fieldwork I have been looking for. After a fair number of conversations with my colleagues in graduate school, it is clear that they would as well. Why?

1. There just aren’t many opportunities to pursue a project in public interest law, where one can dictate the terms of his/her work and really focus on their passions, be it women, children, human rights, advocacy or basic rule of law procedure.

2. JusticeMakers is an opportunity to engage with stakeholders within their respective societies and create sustainability within developing states. Much of the transitional justice dialogue has focused on the lack of these efforts and the need to fill in essential gaps between de facto and de jure realities.

Does one need to be an absolute expert in the law to attain a JusticeMakers award?

No. He or she just has to have interest and sufficient knowledge in the system, the cultural realities and the basic problems within a given country. With the help of legal mentors, justice experts and academic scholars, the winners will gain the necessary skill set to produce long-lasting, effective change, alleviate human rights abuses and partake in achieving due process.

I hope graduate students will run with this opportunity and apply. Successful development, after all, rests on the establishment of rule of law. Without efforts of organizations like IBJ, opportunities like JusticeMakers, and committed individuals that spur change, governments will continue to ignore the basic tenets of the responsibility to protect, an integral theme of current international dialogue on sovereignty.