2015 ASEAN Youth JusticeMakers Fellows
We are pleased to announce that IBJ has selected 4 winners of the ASEAN Youth JusticeMakers Competition 2015, sponsored by the National Youth Council (NYC) of Singapore and apVentures.
Naila Rizki Zakia (Indonesia)
Naila Rizqi Zakiah, a committed Public Defender and volunteer at Sahabat Anak, is addressing juvenile justice challenges in Indonesia. Despite the 2014 law aimed at protecting children’s rights, poor implementation leaves many youths facing harsh conditions and unaware of their rights. Naila’s JusticeMakers project tackles this issue by training underage detainees and university students to become legal mentors. These mentors will educate their peers about their rights and provide crucial support to underage detainees. Read More
Arianne Reyes (The Philippines)
Arianne Reyes is working to bridge the gap between juvenile justice legislation and its implementation in the Philippines. Her JusticeMakers project involves creating an instructional video and materials to address the needs of children in conflict with the law. Arianne and her team of young lawyers will train social workers and paralegals on their legal rights, collaborate with the Juvenile Justice Welfare Council (JJWC) for workshops, and run a social media campaign to raise awareness. Additionally, Arianne is connecting with key stakeholders and developing a comprehensive juvenile justice website to support advocates and researchers. Read More
Pawinee Chumsri (Thailand)
Pawinee Chumsri, a Legal Assistance and Litigation Manager at Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), is tackling the legal challenges stemming from the 2014 coup in Thailand. Her JusticeMakers project aims to provide basic legal assistance through a human rights hotline center. Pawinee and her team will also litigate strategic cases and document human rights violations under military rule to strengthen protections for vulnerable civilians. Read More
Laofang Bundidterdsakul (Thailand)
Leofang Bundidterdsakul, founder-director of the Legal Advocacy Center for Indigenous Communities (LACIC), is working to address the legal challenges faced by indigenous and ethnic communities in Thailand. His JusticeMakers project will advocate for tribal land rights by representing clients in land rights cases and encouraging local community leaders to observe the trials to boost their legal awareness. Leofang will also negotiate land boundary amendments for the Karen people, conduct fieldwork to establish these boundaries, and provide legal consultations on the Salween River dam project. Additionally, he plans to support communities in filing complaints with the National Human Rights Commission and prepare legal documents for potential lawsuits. Read More