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In 1994 the genocide in Rwanda caused commotion within the international community. Even though ASF was not yet equipped for long-term interventions, it decided to take action anyway. Between 1995 and 1998 different trainings were realised in Arusha, Tanzania, to educate lawyers on the proceedings of
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An international justice system assures the protection of human rights and supports the restoration of victims’ dignity. ASF assists victims who wish to be represented before national and international courts that prosecute international crimes. In this context, ASF provides assistance to victims in
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Together with local partners, ASF develops and establishes mechanisms, tailored to the local situation, improving access to justice for the most vulnerable populations. We organize awareness campaigns amongst the local population to improve knowledge on their rights. Our legal aid centres offer free
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contributing to the creation of fair and equitable societies, in which the law and its institutions serve the most vulnerable groups and individuals. ASF aims to realise this objective through field interventions in the areas of access to justice, legal aid and legal assistance before both national
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The necessity to execute a long-term detailed project facilitates ASF’s growth into an international organisation. Besides the initial mission for direct assistance and defence of people, ASF sets itself another goal: to contribute, as an independent actor, to a more just and equitable society, in
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With a strong emphasis on solidarity, members of the ILN perform their missions in accordance with pro bono conditions: voluntary work, constantly ensuring quality of services that benefit the most vulnerable people. The ILN offers a lasting partnership for law firms and other legal professionals
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The ambition of the first
Lawyers Without Frontiers in 1992 was to lend assistance and/or to defend persons whose rights were not respected in their country, because the cases were ‘sensitive’. Between 1992 and 1996 countless missions for immediate assistance were realised. As part of the project
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ASF provides legal assistance to vulnerable communities to ensure that they have equal access to legal mechanisms in their interactions with more powerful actors (State and non-State), to ensure that people know their rights and are empowered to use them. ASF works with communities to encourage
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or
Lawyers without Borders, is an international NGO, active in the human rights and development sector. Created in 1992 by a group of Belgian lawyers, ASF’s main objective is the realisation of institutions and mechanisms that facilitate access to independent and fair justice systems that ensure
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Furthermore, there was the problem of a gross lack of lawyers in the country. During the genocide many people died, while others fled. The remaining lawyers could not or did not want to be involved in trials to convict the perpetrators. To answer this problem ASF started the program ‘Rights for
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Economic and social rights, such as the rights to decent work conditions, the highest attainable standard of health, education, adequate standard of living including access to land, food and water, are typically violated as a result of lack of political will, negligence and/or discrimination.
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Members of the ILN take part in ASF interventions in countries where justice is inaccessible or where there are few security guarantees for vulnerable populations. They contribute to developing mechanisms and actions for strengthening judicial stakeholders and improving access to justice.
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In the countries of intervention, ASF teams work in close collaboration with local partners (lawyers, bar associations and civil society organisations). The legal professionals in the
International Legal Network (ILN) support ASF missions on ad hoc basis.
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ASF intervenes for the benefit of vulnerable people in emblematic cases through negotiation, mediation and/or taking a case to court for groups such as child soldiers, victims of human trafficking, torture or mistreatment, threatened journalists, etc.
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ASF intervenes in cases where lawyers and human rights defenders are threatened, criminalised, harassed or even killed. ASF intervenes in these cases by providing legal and/or material aid to the victim, or serves as an observer at their trial.
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Created by
Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) in 2010, the ILN brings together legal professionals from around the world eager to share their expertise and participate in activities to ensure that the law is a driving force for sustainable change.
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Where the legal aid system is inadequate or absent, the most vulnerable populations have limited access to courts and other mechanisms used for resolving disputes. Their right to fair and equitable justice is at risk.
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ASF uses the law to serve the most vulnerable people: e.g. minors, women, persons illegally imprisoned, victims of human rights violationsm and any individual or group unable to access justice.
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legal information, advice and referrals. ASF lawyers are available to help the most vulnerable. If needed, mobile courts are organised to ensure access to justice in remote and rural areas.
250:. The organisation also works on thematic issues such as access to justice, defending the 'defenders', international criminal justice, strategic litigation, and economic and social rights.
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373:". Its Dutch name is "Advocaten Zonder Grenzen"; the organization does not carry an English name. Avocats Sans Frontières is also commonly known by its abbreviation "ASF".
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316:. Intervening in a specific case not only contributes to ending injustice for the involved parties, but can also serve – by changing the law – greater public interest.
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Official press release of The
Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE)announcing that the CCBE Human Rights Award is granted to Avocats Sans Frontières
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In 2007, ASF was granted the CCBE Human Rights Award by the
Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe.
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Everyone in Rwanda’. To realise this program, ASF opened its first permanent mission abroad in Rwanda.
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ASF publication that won the
Solidarity Prize (Solidariteitspreis) of the newspaper De Standaard
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Avocats Sans Frontières
Official Website in English, French and Dutch
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legal security and guarantee fundamental human rights for everyone.
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466:"CCBE Human Rights Award granted to Avocats Sans Frontières"
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164:In this respect, ASF opens new missions in
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440:"What is the International Legal Network?"
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681:International human rights organizations
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100:Chantal van Cutsem, Director General
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701:Organizations established in 1992
571:Sans Frontières/Without Borders
291:Supporting international justice
220:Democratic Republic of the Congo
696:International law organizations
691:Organisations based in Brussels
201:Advocaten Zonder Grenzen (AdZG)
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205:non-governmental organization
644:Sociologists Without Borders
398:International Criminal Court
298:International Criminal Court
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174:Democratic Republic of Congo
655:Translators Without Borders
633:Pharmaciens Sans Frontières
337:International Legal Network
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622:Librarians Without Borders
521:Download ASF general flyer
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649:Télécoms Sans Frontières
627:Médecins Sans Frontières
601:Chemists Without Borders
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133:Advocaten Zonder Grenzen
16:Not to be confused with
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129:Avocats Sans Frontières
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18:Lawyers Without Borders
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442:. ASF. Archived from
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74:Area served
50:Human rights
586:(Archivers)
497:19 December
475:16 November
450:19 December
424:16 November
393:Rule of law
178:Timor-Leste
108:Employees
670:Categories
526:ASF Canada
418:"Homepage"
404:References
258:Activities
121:www.asf.be
96:Key people
629:(Doctors)
608:(Schools)
592:(Lawyers)
388:Legal aid
302:The Hague
300:(ICC) in
232:Indonesia
88:legal aid
65:, Belgium
377:See also
188:(2010).
180:(2000),
176:(2000),
168:(1999),
63:Brussels
56:Location
248:Tunisia
228:Morocco
216:Burundi
166:Burundi
140:History
117:Website
38:Founded
354:Awards
240:Uganda
224:Rwanda
218:, the
182:Uganda
170:Kosovo
83:Method
469:(PDF)
186:Nepal
46:Focus
573:NGOs
499:2011
477:2009
452:2011
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365:Misc
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192:Goal
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