IBJ's Access to Justice initiative in Tunisia supported by The United Nations Democracy Fund

IBJ's Access to Justice initiative in Tunisia supported by The United Nations Democracy Fund​

Geneva, Switzerland – 23 March 2023 – IBJ is proud to announce its new project in Tunisia, funded by The United Nations Democracy Fund. The project, which commenced on 1 March 2023, will expand over 24 months. "Advancing Access to Justice Tunisia" (AAJT) will increase the capacity of lawyers to defend vulnerable communities in Tunisia, enhance respect for justice, ensure early access to justice, and increase Tunisian awareness of their rights under national and international law.

Geneva, Switzerland – 23 March 2023 – IBJ is proud to announce its new project in Tunisia, funded by The United Nations Democracy Fund. The project, which commenced on 1 March 2023, will expand over 24 months. "Advancing Access to Justice Tunisia" (AAJT) will increase the capacity of lawyers to defend vulnerable communities in Tunisia, enhance respect for justice, ensure early access to justice, and increase Tunisian awareness of their rights under national and international law.

Tunisia’s criminal justice system is plagued by excessive and abusive pre-trial detention, prison over-capacity, deficiencies in legal training, and insufficient legal rights awareness. While there have been some attempts to improve the system, meaningful change remains distant as criminal justice reform continues to be a low priority for the government. Tunisian law stipulates that accused individuals have the right to consult a lawyer starting at the police custody phase. This has, however, not been effective with the law being inadequately implemented. Between June 2016 and May 2017, only 22% of accused detainees were able to exercise their right to a defender. Furthermore, in 2021, 54.9% of the prison population in Tunisia were estimated to be pre-trial detainees. Pre-trial detainees face increased risk of torture, sexual assault, and health issues.

Tunisia’s criminal justice system is plagued by excessive and abusive pre-trial detention, prison over-capacity, deficiencies in legal training, and insufficient legal rights awareness. While there have been some attempts to improve the system, meaningful change remains distant as criminal justice reform continues to be a low priority for the government. Tunisian law stipulates that accused individuals have the right to consult a lawyer starting at the police custody phase. This has, however, not been effective with the law being inadequately implemented. Between June 2016 and May 2017, only 22% of accused detainees were able to exercise their right to a defender. Furthermore, in 2021, 54.9% of the prison population in Tunisia were estimated to be pre-trial detainees. Pre-trial detainees face increased risk of torture, sexual assault, and health issues.

To strengthen the criminal justice system and to advance access to justice in Tunisia, AAJT will leverage technology and provide access to competent legal representation through the training of lawyers and defenders and building their capacity to effectively safeguard and advance the human rights of those in the criminal justice system. In collaboration with the Tunisian Bar Association and the Tunisia Association of Young Lawyers, IBJ will implement a training and capacity building program for criminal defense lawyers, develop a legal services smartphone app to connect lawyers and clients, develop and expand access to legal representation for vulnerable detainees, and found public legal rights awareness campaign via radio and social media. The project will train 120 lawyers in criminal defense, reaching 250 detainees with competent legal services. Overall, the project expects to impact over 500,000 individuals with legal rights awareness campaigns. AAJT activities will contribute to long-term systemic change of Tunisia’s criminal justice system.

To strengthen the criminal justice system and to advance access to justice in Tunisia, AAJT will leverage technology and provide access to competent legal representation through the training of lawyers and defenders and building their capacity to effectively safeguard and advance the human rights of those in the criminal justice system. In collaboration with the Tunisian Bar Association and the Tunisia Association of Young Lawyers, IBJ will implement a training and capacity building program for criminal defense lawyers, develop a legal services smartphone app to connect lawyers and clients, develop and expand access to legal representation for vulnerable detainees, and found public legal rights awareness campaign via radio and social media. The project will train 120 lawyers in criminal defense, reaching 250 detainees with competent legal services. Overall, the project expects to impact over 500,000 individuals with legal rights awareness campaigns. AAJT activities will contribute to long-term systemic change of Tunisia’s criminal justice system.

UNDEF was created by UN Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan in 2005 as a United Nations General Trust Fund to support democratization efforts around the world. UNDEF funds projects that empower civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the participation of all groups in democratic processes. The large majority of UNDEF funds go to local civil society organizations, both in the transition and consolidation phases of democratization.

UNDEF was created by UN Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan in 2005 as a United Nations General Trust Fund to support democratization efforts around the world. UNDEF funds projects that empower civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the participation of all groups in democratic processes. The large majority of UNDEF funds go to local civil society organizations, both in the transition and consolidation phases of democratization.

In recognition of the fundamental principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) is dedicated to protecting the basic legal rights of ordinary individuals in developing countries. Specifically, IBJ works 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.

In recognition of the fundamental principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) is dedicated to protecting the basic legal rights of ordinary individuals in developing countries. Specifically, IBJ works 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.

For further information, please contact (media requests): International Bridges to Justice Sanjeewa Sliyanage International Program Director Phone: +41(0) 22 731 24 41 Email: sliyanage@ibj.org

For further information, please contact (media requests):
International Bridges to Justice Sanjeewa Sliyanage International Program Director Phone: +41(0) 22 731 24 41 Email: sliyanage@ibj.org