Noéllie Iyewa GAGLO, TOGO
Noélli Gaglo from Togo
“The issue of the absence or ineffectivity of legal representation of the accused is a real problem and a true violation of the right to access justice and to a fair trial.”
About Noéllie
Ms. Noéllie Gaglo is a lawyer with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Law and a certificate of legal aptitude. Having participated in numerous trainings, she currently serves as the treasurer of the Union of Young Lawyers in Togo and works with CACIT (le Collectif des Associations Contre l’Impunité au Togo). She is actively involved in the protection of human rights in Togo.
The Challenge
Noéllie aims to address the specific problems faced by women in prison, including endemic overcrowding, the increasing number of detained women, difficulties related to childbirth and child care in prison, and, most critically, the absence of legal representation, which exacerbates the problem of overcrowding.
The Innovation: Action for Effective Legal Representation of Accused Persons in Lomé Civil Prison
The main objective of Noéllie’s project was to mobilize fellow lawyers passionate about human rights to offer free legal representation for women prisoners. The project involved providing pro bono legal assistance to women detained in Lomé Civil Prison, creating a paralegal pool within the prison, and organizing legal awareness sessions for detainees. During the project, Noéllie developed training modules on criminal procedure, human rights, and various national, regional, and international legal instruments that uphold them.
Case study sessions and practical care sessions were organized, during which Noéllie informed 86 inmates of their legal rights and trained them to become paralegals offering legal assistance to their fellow prisoners. As a result, 86 detainees, including 49 women who had previously been unaware of their rights, received education certificates at a ceremony attended by official representatives. The legal assistance provided through the project contributed to the release of 16 women and six men, and seven cases were closed. Noéllie will continue to collaborate with CACIT and fellow JusticeMaker Thérèse Donu to ensure the sustainability of the Lomé project.
During the training with the male detainees organised with CACIT (le Collectif des Associations Contre l’Impunité au Togo).