human rights

Burma Lawyers' Council

The Burma Lawyers' Council (BLC) is an independent group of lawyers and legal academics. Its aim is to foster human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Burma by such means as public education campaigns, provision of legal advice and research into the Burmese judicial system. The Council's website provides a selection of legal materials relating to Burma, including the country's Constitutions and its National Convention, reports and articles on the legal situation in Burma and a number of landmark agreements and declarations.

Centre for Human Rights

Website of the Centre for Human Rights which is based in the Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria. The Centre's activities are detailed on the site and include academic programmes, projects and publications focused on human rights law in Africa. Centre journals include Human Rights Law in Africa and the African Human Rights Law Journal. A comprehensive collection of global human rights documents and African human rights documents are provided along with constitutions and other human rights legislation of individual African countries.

Avocats Sans Frontières

Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) is a Belgium-based international NGO. Its membership mostly consists of lawyers and its aim is to promote justice and the rule of law, and to defend the civil, political and other rights of the most vulnerable people in the world. The group's "Lawyers for Lawyers" project aims to support human rights lawyers whose professional independence is under threat. Press releases, a free newsletter, activity reports and other publications are available on the website, plus details of ASF seminars and training. The site can be viewed in English, French or Dutch.

Open Society Justice Initiative

The Open Society Justice Initiative is a programme of the Open Society Institute, a private foundation established by the philanthropist George Soros in 1993. It is concerned with the promotion of law reform, the protection human rights and the development of international law. The site gives details of current and past activities, covering areas such as national criminal justice reform, international justice, freedom of information and expression, equality and citizenship, anti-corruption and development of legal capacity.

Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights

Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights is an eduational charity which was initiated in 1993. Karamah seeks to highlight how global human rights issues affect muslims, and supports Muslim communities in America and abroad in the pursuit of justice. The website provides details of the projects Karamah is involved with including one on Islamic jurisprudence and a domestic violence initiative.

Judicial System Monitoring Committee

The Judicial System Monitoring Committee (JSMP) was set up in 2001 to improve the judicial and legislative system in Timor-Leste. Activities include court monitoring and the production of reports on the development of the judicial system. The site has news stories relating to Timor-Leste and an archive going back to 2001. There are full-text monitoring reports on the work of the Court of Appeal, the District Court in Dili and on specific cases. Other reports look at the state of the Timor-Leste justice sector, human rights in court administration and the right to appeal.

Center for Constitutional Rights

The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) was established in 1966. It is a leading independent US body which campaigns and litigates for the protection of US civil liberties and international human rights. Its website provides information on the aims of the organisation and its campaigns. It includes access to press releases, case notes, campaign materials and full-text pamphlets and reports.

International Commission of Jurists

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) seeks to promote international human rights standards through the rule of law. Formed in 1952, its membership is made up of sixty lawyers representing different legal systems from around the world. The ICJ's website gives a history of the organisation, details of its activities and profiles of each Commissioner. The ICJ Legal Resource Centre page provides a searchable database of reports, press releases, legal documents and other publications, which are available in full-text form.

Iraq : Research Guide to Legal Documents, Legal News and International Law

Collection of links to online news stories, and other material, relating to legal issues in Iraq. Resources have been compiled by Vincent Moyer at the University of California, Hastings Law Library. Links to Iraq news stories come from sources around the world along with selected online articles discussing international legal issues in Iraq. There are links to information on inspections and sanctions, human rights issues, the treatment of prisoners and resources dealing with the law of war. Links to various document collections and related research websites are also provided.

Canadian Forum on Civil Justice

The Canadian Forum on Civil Justice is a non-profit organisation which aims to foster a fair, accessible and effective civil justice system. Its website has information about research programmes, including reports by the Forum's Action Committee. There is an inventory of civil justice reforms in Canada from 1950 onwards (with links to relevant documents), a blog, a bibliography (with links) called the 'Clearinghouse' and a newsletter. The site can be viewed in English or French.

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