THE INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FOUNDATION LTD

DIRECT SERVICE - AFGHANISTAN, WEST BANK, TUNISIA, AND MYANMAR: SEE SCHEDULE OIN 2024, THE ILF DEFENDED, OR SUPPORTED THE DEFENSE OF THOUSANDS OF POOR AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTRIES, SECURING LIFE-CHANGING OUTCOMES FOR OUR CLIENTS WHILE ADVANCING SYSTEMIC REFORMS THAT HAVE STRENGTHENED THE RULE OF LAW. DESPITE WORKING IN COMPLEX AND OFTEN CONFLICT-AFFECTED ENVIRONMENTS, ILF LAWYERS ENSURED THAT INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED OR DETAINED ESPECIALLY WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND MARGINALIZED GROUPS HAD ACCESS TO JUSTICE.IN MYANMAR, ILF LAWYERS ACHIEVED NOTABLE SUCCESSES DESPITE THE CHALLENGING LEGAL ENVIRONMENT. IN 2024, THE ILF PROVIDED REPRESENTATION TO INDIVIDUALS IN MORE THAN 600 CASES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE ILF'S SPECIALIZED GENDER JUSTICE UNIT, SUPPORTED BY UN WOMEN, REPRESENTED 145 CASES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS, SUCCESSFULLY SECURING PRETRIAL RELEASE IN CASES WHERE DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES OFTEN BAR WOMEN FROM OBTAINING BAIL. THE PRETRIAL RELEASE SUCCESSES ARE REMARKABLE AS IN PRACTICE, COURTS IN MYANMAR ONLY AGREE TO RELEASE PEOPLE ON MINOR OFFENSES AFTER THEY CAN FURNISH TWO GUARANTORS AND PROPERTY DOCUMENTS. THIS UNJUST PRACTICE PARTICULARLY IMPACTS WOMEN WHO LACK THE MEANS TO OWN PROPERTY AND WHO DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO CAN BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR APPEARANCE IN COURT. IN TWO CASES, WHERE THE ILF'S FEMALE CLIENTS COULD NOT PRESENT PROPERTY DOCUMENTS OR GUARANTORS, THE ILF LAWYER ZEALOUSLY ARGUED TO RELEASE THE WOMEN USING A PROVISION OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE THAT DIRECTS WOMEN'S RELEASE ON BAIL. SHE SUCCESSFULLY SECURED THEIR PRE-TRIAL RELEASE AND DEMONSTRATED THE IMPACT OF TAKING A GENDER-SENSITIVE APPROACH. ALSO IN 2024, THE JUVENILE JUSTICE UNIT, SUPPORTED BY UNICEF, REPRESENTED 126 CASES OF CHILDREN AND SECURED A NUMBER OF POSITIVE OUTCOMES. IN ONE NOTABLE CASE, A 16-YEAR-OLD CLIENT ACCUSED OF THEFT HAD BEEN DETAINED IN POLICE LOCKUP FOR FOUR MONTHS WITHOUT A LAWYER BEFORE THE ILF FOUND HER. ALTHOUGH THE GIRL DID NOT HAVE FAMILY LOCALLY, THE ILF LAWYER SECURED HER RELEASE ON PROBATION UNDER THE CARE OF A NEIGHBOR, WHO ACTS AS HER GUARDIAN. AMID ESCALATING CONFLICT IN THE RAKHINE REGION, THE ILF LEAD THE FIGHT AGAINST THE DISCRIMINATORY ARREST OF THE ROHINGYA POPULATION IN MYANMAR. FROM 2022 THOUGH 2024, THE ILF REPRESENTED MORE THAN 400 MEMBERS OF THE ROHINGYA COMMUNITY, IN MANY CASES SECURING THEIR RELEASE AND SUPPORTING THEIR SAFE REINTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY. TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE ARRESTS OF ROHINGYA, WHICH IS COMMONLY DUE TO LACK OF IDENTITY DOCUMENTS, THE ILF IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNHCR ALSO PROVIDED LEGAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE CIVIL DOCUMENTATION PROCESS TO 205 INDIVIDUALS BELONGING TO MINORITY COMMUNITIES IN MYANMAR AND SECURED DOCUMENTS FOR 27 INDIVIDUALS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ILF PURSUED STRATEGIC LITIGATION BEFORE THE UNION SUPREME COURT, CHALLENGING DOUBLE JEOPARDY AND VIOLATIONS OF CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND CONTINUES TO ENGAGE IN OUTREACH TO VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THEY ARE AWARE OF THEIR RIGHT TO COUNSEL. IN TUNISIA, THE ILF REPRESENTED 215 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN IN 2024. NOTABLY, THE ILF EXPANDED OUR MODEL OF HOLISTIC LEGAL AID FOR CHILDREN WITH SUPPORT FROM UNICEF. SINCE THEIR ESTABLISHMENT IN 2023, THE ILF'S SPECIALIZED JUVENILE LEGAL AID OFFICES HAVE BENEFITED OVER 500 CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW. IN ONE REGION OF TUNISIA WHERE THE USE OF DIVERSION IN JUVENILE CASES WAS PREVIOUSLY NONEXISTENT AND CHILDREN WERE ROUTINELY DETAINED PRETRIAL, TODAY MORE THAN 60% OF THE CHILDREN REPRESENTED BY THE ILF ARE DIVERTED FROM THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE ILF'S HOLISTIC DEFENSE PRACTICE AND THE ADDITION OF ON-STAFF SOCIAL WORKERS IN 2024, THE ILF ALSO HELPED CLIENTS ACCESS PSYCHOSOCIAL SERVICES, EDUCATION, AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING, ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES OF JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT. IN ONE CASE, THE ILF REPRESENTED A 17-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO HAD BEEN ABANDONED BY HIS FAMILY, STRUGGLED WITH ADDICTION, AND WAS DETAINED ON SERIOUS CHARGES. THROUGH PERSISTENT ADVOCACY, THE ILF SECURED HIS RELEASE FROM DETENTION, ARRANGED TREATMENT AT A SPECIALIZED REHABILITATION CENTER, AND PERSUADED HIS FATHER TO RETURN FROM ABROAD TO SUPPORT HIS CARE. THE CASE WAS RESOLVED THROUGH MEDIATION, AND THE ILF CONNECTED THE BOY WITH VOCATIONAL TRAINING THAT ALIGNED WITH HIS INTERESTS DEMONSTRATING HOW THE ILF'S HOLISTIC JUVENILE DEFENSE PRACTICE DIVERTS CHILDREN FROM INCARCERATION AND HELPS THEM BUILD STABLE FUTURES. THE ILF HAS ALSO TRAINED HUNDREDS OF LAWYERS AROUND THE COUNTRY ON DEFENSE STRATEGIES TO OBTAIN ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION AND COMMUNITY-BASED PLACEMENTS FOR CLIENTS. IN ADDITION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CLOONEY FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE, THE ILF BEGAN PREPARING FOR IMPACT LITIGATION IN GENDER DISCRIMINATION CASES, AIMING TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS AGAINST BIAS IN THE COURTS AND SET IMPORTANT PRECEDENTS FOR ADVANCING EQUALITY IN TUNISIA'S JUSTICE SYSTEM.IN PALESTINE, THE ILF PROVIDED REPRESENTATION TO 877 PEOPLE ACCUSED OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES IN THE WEST BANK COURTS IN 2024, MOSTLY CHILDREN. THE ILF SECURED PRETRIAL RELEASE FOR OUR CLIENTS IN 86.1% OF CASES, AND IN 91.5% OF CASES INVOLVING CHILDREN. THROUGH THE DUTY LAWYER PROGRAMS WE ESTABLISHED IN COURTS AND PROSECUTION OFFICES, THE ILF REACHED CLIENTS WITHIN 48 HOURS OF ARREST IN 61.4% OF CASES, ENSURING EARLY, EFFECTIVE DEFENSE. IN EVERY CASE THE ILF REPRESENTED TO CONCLUSION, THE ILF ACHIEVED A POSITIVE OUTCOME WHETHER ACQUITTALS, DISMISSALS, DIVERSION OR REDUCED NON-CUSTODIAL SENTENCES WITH DIVERSION SECURED IN 70% OF CASES INVOLVING CHILDREN. BEYOND THE COURTROOM, THE ILF ADVANCED HOLISTIC LEGAL AID BY MAKING 121 PSYCHOSOCIAL REFERRALS AND PROVIDING SOCIAL WORK SUPPORT, HELPING TO ADDRESS THE BROADER SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS. THIS INTEGRATED APPROACH COMBINING SKILLED DEFENSE WITH TAILORED SOCIAL SUPPORT HAS PROVEN CRITICAL TO SAFEGUARDING RIGHTS AND SECURING JUST, LIFE-CHANGING OUTCOMES. THE ILF ALSO ACHIEVED MAJOR LEGAL VICTORIES ADVANCING DUE PROCESS, INCLUDING PERSUADING A JUVENILE COURT JUDGE TO GUARANTEE THAT ALL CHILDREN WILL NOW HAVE THE RIGHT TO ACCESS TO COUNSEL AT DETENTION HEARINGS. THE ILF TEAM ALSO LITIGATED CASES BEFORE THE APPEALS COURTS CHALLENGING COERCED STATEMENTS, EVIDENCE INTRODUCED WITHOUT NOTICE, AND TRIAL DELAYS STRENGTHENING FAIR TRIAL STANDARDS. THE ILF ADDITIONALLY SIGNED AGREEMENTS WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND MINISTRY OF JUSTICE TO EXPAND ACCESS TO LEGAL AID AND SUPPORT REFORM OF THE LEGAL AID SYSTEM.ALSO IN 2024, IN KENYA AND TUNISIA, THE ILF ADVANCED A LANDMARK TWO-COUNTRY PROJECT TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF HIGH-QUALITY LEGAL AID SERVICES PROVIDED FORM THE EARLIEST MOMENTS AFTER ARREST USING A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL. IN 2024, THE ILF TRAINED SIXTEEN OF LAWYERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS ON HOLISTIC DEFENSE, LAUNCHED STUDY ENROLLMENT IN KENYA WITH 480 PARTICIPANTS AS OF DECEMBER 2024, AND WORKED WITH GOVERNMENT PARTNERS TO STRENGTHEN NATIONAL LEGAL AID SYSTEMS. JUST A FEW MONTHS INTO THE STUDY, PRELIMINARY RESULTS DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF QUALITY LEGAL AID. AMONG CLIENTS WITH PENDING CASES, 75% WERE RELEASED RATHER THAN HELD IN PRETRIAL DETENTION. IN ADDITION, 20% OF CASES WERE WITHDRAWN OR DISMISSED BY PROSECUTORS OR MAGISTRATES BEFORE TRIAL, OFTEN DUE TO INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OR RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE PARTIES. CASE PROCESSING HAS ALSO SHOWN DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT: FOR PEOPLE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, THE MEDIAN TIME FROM ARRAIGNMENT TO RESOLUTION WAS JUST OVER 1 MONTH. COMPLEMENTING THE LEGAL IMPACT, 119 CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVED TAILORED SOCIAL WORK SUPPORT THAT ADDRESSED THE DEEPER ISSUES DRIVING THEIR CASES. TOGETHER, THESE FINDINGS HIGHLIGHT HOW TIMELY AND SKILLED LEGAL AID NOT ONLY REDUCES UNNECESSARY DETENTION BUT ALSO ACCELERATES JUSTICE AND DELIVERS FAIRER OUTCOMES FOR CLIENTS.

ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE - GLOBAL: SEE SCHEDULE OTHE ILF PROVIDES IN-DEPTH MENTORING, TRAINING, INFORMATION, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LEGAL AID PROVIDERS, JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS, AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN ALL THE COUNTRIES WHERE WE WORK. THROUGHOUT 2024, THE ILF CONTINUED TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL LAWYERS TO ENGAGE IN IMPACT LITIGATION THAT CURBS UNLAWFUL AND ARBITRARY ACTIONS OF AUTHORITIES WHILE PIONEERING A HOLISTIC MODEL OF LEGAL AID WITH IN-HOUSE SOCIAL WORKERS. THIS WORK WAS SUPPORTED BY DAY-TO-DAY, CASE-BY-CASE MENTORING BY 19 INTERNATIONAL FELLOWS WHO PROVIDED 3,709.5 HOURS OF MENTORING. THIS INNOVATIVE PROFESSIONAL EXCHANGE HAS TRANSFORMED LOCAL DEFENSE TEAMS FROM PASSIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO PROACTIVE ADVOCATES FOR THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF THEIR CLIENTS. IN ADDITION TO THIS WORK, THE ILF HAS CONTINUED TO SHARE EXPERTISE AND ADVANCE JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENTS, AND LEGAL AID PROVIDERS AROUND THE WORLD. IN DECEMBER 2024, THE ILF CONCLUDED A PROJECT WITH THE GEORGIA LEGAL AID SERVICE (LAS) INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF LEGAL AID SERVICES. THE PROJECT FOCUSED ON THE CREATION OF SPECIALIZED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR LAS LAWYERS AND DEVELOPING A MENTORING PROGRAM FOR EVALUATION AND TRAINING OF LAS LAWYERS. A KEY OUTPUT WAS THE DEVELOPMENT AND LAS ADOPTION OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, BASED ON THE ILF'S 10 MODEL PRACTICE PRINCIPLES FOR LEGAL AID LAWYERS. THE ILF THEN WORKED WITH LAS TO DEVELOP A QUALITY ASSURANCE PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE. THIS TOOL IS INTENDED TO BE USED BY SUPERVISORS TO ASSESS LAWYER PERFORMANCE BASED ON ESTABLISHED STANDARDS. OVER THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT THE ILF PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND INTERNATIONAL FELLOWS, PROVIDED OVER 300 HOURS OF INTENSIVE, CASE-BASED MENTORING TO 89 LAS LAWYERS ON 131 CASES ACROSS THE FOLLOWING 10 LAS BUREAUS: TBILISI, RUSTAVI, MTSKHETA, GORI, TELAVI, KUTAISI, BATUMI, ZESTAPONI, OZURGETI, AND THE BUREAU FOR SPECIALIZED CASES IN TBILISI. THE MENTORING PROGRAM ESTABLISHED TWO REGIONAL BUREAUS, ONE IN THE EAST AND ONE IN THE WEST. THESE BUREAUS SERVED AS HUBS FOR MENTORING ACTIVITIES, ENSURING THAT NEW LAWYERS RECEIVE ONGOING MENTORING IN THEIR CASES, AND THAT MORE SENIOR LAWYERS RECEIVE MENTORING ON ISSUES THAT ARE NEW OR COMPLEX. ALL OF THIS WORK HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPACT THAT THE ILF WAS ABLE TO DOCUMENT QUALITATIVELY AND QUANTITIVELY. OF PARTICULAR NOTE, LAS REPORTED A 60% IMPROVEMENT IN NEW LAWYERS' PERFORMANCE, WITH ATTORNEYS NOW REGULARLY MEETING CLIENTS WITHIN 24 HOURS OF APPOINTMENT AN IMPORTANT NEW PERFORMANCE STANDARD INTRODUCED.IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, THE ILF COMPLETED A SURVEY OF ALL CHILDREN AND YOUTH DETAINED AT THE YOUTH TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION CENTER, PRODUCING DATA TO GUIDE REFORMS AND EXPAND ACCESS TO LEGAL AID SERVICES AND DIVERSION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW. THE ILF ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED ARTS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (COSTAATT) TO LAUNCH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR SYSTEM-IMPACTED YOUTH, SUPPORTING A PILOT PRISON-TO-COLLEGE PIPELINE INITIATIVE WITH INCARCERATION NATIONS NETWORK.IN UZBEKISTAN, THE ILF WAS CONTRACTED BY UNDP TO LEAD A TRAINING FOR LEGAL AID LAWYERS ON DEVELOPING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ROOTED IN INTERNATIONAL LAW AND BEST PRACTICES. THE TRAINING PRODUCED A DRAFT SET OF STANDARDS TO STRENGTHEN THE QUALITY OF LEGAL AID IN CRIMINAL CASES.IN TAJIKISTAN, THE ILF DESIGNED AND DELIVERED TWO INTENSIVE FOUR-DAY TRAININGS FOR 40 LEGAL AID LAWYERS UNDER A UNDP INITIATIVE, FOCUSING ON CORE CRIMINAL DEFENSE SKILLS, RIGHTS PROTECTIONS, AND STRATEGIES TO CHALLENGE PROSECUTORIAL OVERREACH. THE TRAINING WAS WELL-RECEIVED BY THE UNION OF ADVOCATES AND UNDP, SPARKING MOMENTUM FOR BROADER REFORM AND FUTURE COLLABORATION.IN NEPAL, THE ILF WORKED WITH OUR LOCAL PARTNER, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SOCIETY (PDS) OF NEPAL, TO ENSURE THE REPRESENTATION OF POOR AND VULNERABLE ACCUSED AND TO COMBAT DISCRIMINATION IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE ILF ENGAGED IN RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS WITH PDS-NEPAL TO IDENTIFY THE LAWS THAT ARE MOST FREQUENTLY USED TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST POOR AND MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS IN ORDER TO BEGIN BUILDING A STRATEGIC LITIGATION PLAN THAT WOULD CHALLENGE THESE UNJUST LAWS.