International Bridges to Justice’s (IBJ) 2010 Asia JusticeMakers Competition, brought to you by the Lien Institute for Social Innovation, will search for and fund grassroots initiatives in Asian communities to promote criminal justice and ensure the legal rights of all men, women and children. The event builds on the success of a similar global initiative in 2008. A panel of eight judges will evaluate proposals based on a set of Judging Criteria, looking for those that demonstrate the most innovation, efficacy, practicability and sustainability. Eight competitors will be awarded $5,000 fellowships, seven by the judges, and one through a public rating process that will allow people to cast votes on final projects.

Organizations also have the opportunity to partner with the 2010 JM Competition, helping to generate and facilitate participation. With customized promotional materials and ongoing support from JusticeMakers staff, you will find partnering to be a straightforward and painless process. Some organizations such as Echoing Green, Global Giving, Give2Asia, Asian Philanthropy Forum and 1-Focus have already gotten involved in the competition and extended their support. Click here for more information on how your organization can be a part of the ‘10 Asia JusticeMakers Competition.

For a glance at the other ideas of the 2008 JusticeMaker Fellows, click here. Rommell Alim Abitria is one of those fellows, implementing a paralegal project in the Philippines. Rommell has witnessed barriers to the delivery of justice first-hand, particularly where individuals could not afford access to counsel or were unaware of their rights. With the help of IBJ and JusticeMakers, he is tackling these issues by training inmates to become paralegals who can represent themselves in court and advise their peers. Click here to learn more Rommell’s project.

2010 JusticeMakers Fellows will be flown to the Singapore Criminal Justice Training Center (SJTC) to receive initial training from the JM panel of judges prior to the beginning of their project. In addition, during the implementation of their project, IBJ will provide Fellows with documentary photojournalists to record and raise the profile of their efforts.

The 2010 JusticeMakers Competition is tentatively scheduled to begin in January 2010 and conclude in May 2010.

For more information, contact liam@justicemakers.net

As we are about half way to the end of the JusticeMakers application window (August 14, 2008), International Bridges to Justice wanted to pay tribute to a variety of generous non-profit and legal communities whose goodwill and commitment has been and is still key to realize the promise of JusticeMakers.

The following organizations have stand up among others to say “no” to torture and illegal and arbitrary detainment in developing and transitional countries. An act of generosity, an act of solidarity and an act of strength.

1-Focus International
While partnering with JusticeMakers, 1-Focus International emphasizes its deep faith that collaborative innovation is key for synergistic solutions to bring to life a vision. I would like to truly thank Ms. Sandy Weiner, a coach at 1-Focus International, for her continuous excitement for JusticeMakers, her availability and for sharing great project ideas.

Here is what 1-Focus published on their site:

African Democracy Forum
Through its support to JusticeMakers, the African Democracy Forum re-emphasizes its leading position as a committed and dedicated advocate for the promotion of human rights and advancement the rule of law in Africa. Many thanks to the African Democracy Forum for sharing our passion and working actively and with dedication to promote JusticeMakers in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Asian Philanthropy Forum
While partnering with JusticeMakers, the Asian Philanthropy Forum reinforces its conviction that sharing intellectual capital, experiences and best practices is key to for systemic changes to take place in Asia but not only. Thank you Mr. Yuen for your kind words, encouragement and support.

CILIC
Through its support to JusticeMakers, the Civil Liberties Committee, a Malawian Human Rights NGO which started as a result of the collaboration of some bold Malawian lawyers, re-emphasizes the need for protecting, monitoring and promoting legal rights through advocacy, legal counsel and research. Thank you Ms. Emmie Chanika for your time, dedication and great support to JusticeMakers.

CIVICUS
While helping promote JusticeMakers, CIVICUS renews its noble conviction that citizens have a critical role to play in the building of a more equitable and fair society where human rights are upheld. JusticeMakers help profile CIVICUS as a non-profit organization deeply dedicated to the progress of civil liberties in some of the most challenging legal contexts. A special thanks to Mr. Eric Muragana for his continuous availability, commitment and solidarity.

Columbia Law School
While partnering with JusticeMakers, the Centre for Public Interest Law of Columbia reinforces its international position and recognition as a leading center of legal scholarship with a deep commitment to teaching and professional training. Many many thanks to Ms. Akua Akeya, the acting director of the Centre for Public Interest Law of Columbia, for her support, dedication and availability.

CUNY School of Law
Through its support to JusticeMakers, CUNY School of Law reemphasizes its belief that systemic social change can be achieved through the promotion of criminal law in developing and transitional countries. I would like to thank Ms. Michelle J. Anderson for her commitment, dedication and belief in JusticeMakers cause.

Echoing Green
While partnering with JusticeMakers, Echoing Green reinforces its profile as a major global actor of systemic social change. Together with JusticeMakers, Echoing Green brings criminal justice visions to reality. I would like to thank Ms. Lara Galinsky for her kind words, her faith in our cause and her true support.

GlobalGiving
While helping promote JusticeMakers, GlobalGiving´s work to connect dedicated, entrepreneurial and bold innovators with their pairs is stressed. GlobalGiving help synergistic solutions to bring to life project ideas with long-term sustainable impact. Thank you so much Ms. Joan Ochi for your enthusiastic support and commitment to JusticeMakers cause.

i-genius
While partnering with JusticeMakers, i-genius strengthens its leading position as an organization working to stimulate fresh thinking and brilliant ideas, to inspire new social entrepreneurs and to connect them with peers for social change to take place. I would like to thank i-genius CEO Mr. Tommy Hutchinson for his commitment and meaningful support.

Public Interest Law Institute (PILI)
Through its support to JusticeMakers, the Public Interest Law Institute (PILI) renews its commitment to advance human rights around the world by stimulating public interest advocacy. With JusticeMakers, PILI´s belief that the use of law is key to promote a peaceful and fair society is highlighted. Many thanks to Mr. David Caughlin and Ms. Christine Schmidt for their time, consideration and support.

Social Edge
Through its support to JusticeMakers, Social Edge strengthens its profile as a global leader in connecting and networking inspired and bold social entrepreneurs for social change to take place. A special thanks to Mr. Victor D’Allant for is excitement, goodwill and critical help.

WOUGNET
While helping to promote JusticeMakers, the Women of Uganda Network renews its dedication to make information and communication technologies a strong tool of social, legal, political and economic change. Many thanks to Dorothy Okello for her time, support and goodwill.

Please check out our JusticeMakers partners page to learn more about the commitment of our generous partner to systemic social change.

Finally, a special thanks to:

• Scott, a New York criminal defence lawyer and editor of the great Simple Justice blog (http://blog.simplejustice.us/)
• Lieutenant Raymond Foster for his kind support to JusticeMakers through the website Hi-Tech Criminal Justice Online (http://www.hitechcj.com/) which I invite you to consult.
• All the individuals who support us to speak out against the unspeakable.

From the bottom of our heart, thank you.