GENEVA, June 24 IBJ-Anti-Torture-Day
GENEVA , June 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A competition for innovations that end torture, arbitrary detainment and abuse is being announced by
International Bridges to Justice (IBJ). Called JusticeMakers, the initiative launches onJune 26th , the United Nations International Day in Support of
Victims of Torture.
The competition will award$5,000 to the eight best proposals for concrete, achievable action. JusticeMakers is open to anyone with an idea and
a familiarity with his or her country's criminal justice system.
"Much of the time, curbing torture is more a question of resources than it is a question of politics and treaties," said IBJ Founder and CEOKaren Tse .
"I have seen criminal defenders, police, and civil society come together to uphold criminal justice in some of the most challenging legal climates."
JusticeMakers was inspired by people such as IBJ Fellow and Cambodian lawyer Ouk Vandeth -- passionate, creative individuals who deliver due process
rights to the accused.
A former policeman turned criminal defender, Ouk is an apt symbol for hope as the world pauses with the United Nations to commemorate those who have
fallen victim to the most vile of human rights abuses.
"Ending torture isn't an unattainable goal," said Ouk. "It is just about guaranteeing people the legal protections afforded to them by law."
Tse sees tremendous promise in JusticeMakers' pragmatic approach. "JusticeMakers will help move international human rights from an era of
declaration to an era of implementation," she said.
Applications will be accepted via http://www.justicemakers.net until
August 14, 2008 .
About International Bridges to Justice (IBJ)
IBJ (http://www.ibj.org) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 with a vision to end torture in the 21st Century through the just implementation of
criminal laws. IBJ's experience has shown that legal counsel at the earliest stages of defense can reduce instances of torture by as much as 80%. Thus, IBJ works with the legal aid lawyer as the primary leverage point for the legal transformation of its target countries. Since its inception, IBJ has
pioneered this practical approach to torture prevention inEast Asia . It is now poised to implement human rights and fundamental freedoms in countries
worldwide.
ABOUT OUK VANDETH
Ouk Vandeth is a survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide. He served as a police official from 1985 to 1994, a period during which it was common practice to obtain confessions from the accused using torture. Ouk subsequently left his police position to study law, and he became one of the first 25 legal aid lawyers inCambodia . Ouk joined IBJ in 2007 as a Fellow -- leading IBJ's criminal justice transformation efforts in his home country. Learn more about Ouk by visiting IBJ's Youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/internationalbridges.
PRESS CONTACT
IBJ
Sanjeewa Liyanage , Program Director
Phone: +41-22-731-24-41 | Fax: +41-22-731-24-83 | E-mail:
sliyanage@ibj.org
SOURCE International Bridges to Justice
International Bridges to Justice (IBJ). Called JusticeMakers, the initiative launches on
Victims of Torture.
The competition will award
a familiarity with his or her country's criminal justice system.
"Much of the time, curbing torture is more a question of resources than it is a question of politics and treaties," said IBJ Founder and CEO
"I have seen criminal defenders, police, and civil society come together to uphold criminal justice in some of the most challenging legal climates."
JusticeMakers was inspired by people such as IBJ Fellow and Cambodian lawyer Ouk Vandeth -- passionate, creative individuals who deliver due process
rights to the accused.
A former policeman turned criminal defender, Ouk is an apt symbol for hope as the world pauses with the United Nations to commemorate those who have
fallen victim to the most vile of human rights abuses.
"Ending torture isn't an unattainable goal," said Ouk. "It is just about guaranteeing people the legal protections afforded to them by law."
Tse sees tremendous promise in JusticeMakers' pragmatic approach. "JusticeMakers will help move international human rights from an era of
declaration to an era of implementation," she said.
Applications will be accepted via http://www.justicemakers.net until
About International Bridges to Justice (IBJ)
IBJ (http://www.ibj.org) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 with a vision to end torture in the 21st Century through the just implementation of
criminal laws. IBJ's experience has shown that legal counsel at the earliest stages of defense can reduce instances of torture by as much as 80%. Thus, IBJ works with the legal aid lawyer as the primary leverage point for the legal transformation of its target countries. Since its inception, IBJ has
pioneered this practical approach to torture prevention in
worldwide.
ABOUT OUK VANDETH
Ouk Vandeth is a survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide. He served as a police official from 1985 to 1994, a period during which it was common practice to obtain confessions from the accused using torture. Ouk subsequently left his police position to study law, and he became one of the first 25 legal aid lawyers in
http://www.youtube.com/user/internationalbridges.
PRESS CONTACT
IBJ
Phone: +41-22-731-24-41 | Fax: +41-22-731-24-83 | E-mail:
sliyanage@ibj.org
SOURCE International Bridges to Justice
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