Nada Al-Jarayhi

About Nada

Nada Al-Jarayhi is a defense lawyer committed to supporting individuals who lack access to legal representation, especially those affected by poverty and displacement. She has more than 10 years of experience working in different fields related to business administration, project monitoring and evaluation, teaching, health awareness, and legal consulting. Her motivation to work in human rights comes from wanting to help people who face legal challenges without the knowledge or resources needed to defend themselves.

The Challenge

Ms. Al-Jarayhi finds that access to justice is undermined by a range of problems. These include arbitrary detention, physical assault or torture during arrest and/or during interrogation. At the same time, a widespread lack of awareness of legal rights deters people from asserting their rights. Ms. Al-Jarayhi also finds that accused individuals may face refusals or prolonged delays in obtaining legal representation, weakening the fairness of the proceedings. An added layer to these problems is the lack of cooperation among justice actors which creates inconsistencies throughout the criminal justice system.

Innovation: Makers of Justice

Ms. Al-Jarayhi’s project aims to strengthen access to legal protection in several regions, including Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Idlib, and Raqqa. Ms. Al-Jarayhi’s aims to establish local and virtual legal aid centers, develop a digital guide for detainees and their families, and create an online platform that connects volunteer lawyers with human rights organizations. Another important aspect of the project is its focus on coordination. Dialogue forums bring together lawyers, civil society groups, and judicial actors to share information, discuss challenges, and improve responses to violations. By combining awareness, legal assistance, and better cooperation among justice institutions, Ms. Al-Jarayhi’s project will help to build a more responsive legal environment.