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2011Voices on the Border/FESPAD - San Salvador, El Salvador Positions Available: 2 Placement Length: 12 weeks Voices on the Border’s mission is to promote just and sustainable development in El Salvador. Voices has provided support for Salvadoran refugees in Honduras, assisted communities in creating local development organizations, led an effort to protect forestland along the Lempa River, and supported several public health initiatives. Voices has recently completed an investigation into the 2009 killings of civil society leaders in the Cabañas region of El Salvador, and the connections to the resource extraction industry in the province. They are currently drafting a report for release this winter. Following the report, further investigations into related issues will be conducted. The ILP fellows will assist with the continuing investigations, and with drafting related reports. For example, the fellow may investigate possible involvement of Canadian mining company Pacific Rim in the violation of Salvadoran and Canadian law in its activities in the Cabañas, as well as the corporation’s potential liability for crimes committed by its employees. This will touch upon environmental, human rights, and criminal law – perhaps also international trade law in relation to the ICSID tribunal. For more information on this project, contact Ian McKellar: ian.mckellar@gmail.com Return to top Observatorio Ciudadano (OC) - Temuco, Chile Positions Available: 1 Placement Length: 10-12 weeks Observatorio Ciudadano (OC) is a non-governmental organization devoted to the defence, promotion, and documentation of human rights. Their work is founded upon the principles of pluralism, multidisciplinarity, and interculturalism. The Globalization and Human Rights program at OC addresses the challenges of globalization from a human rights perspective, taking into account the negative impacts of economic globalization on citizens and local communities, as well as the possibilities that globalization provides for the promotion of human rights. The ILP Fellow will primarily assist in the research and writing of a new research project on human rights standards for natural resource investment. The candidate is invited to bring in their own Canadian knowledge of the law and corporate social responsibility to engage in comparative analysis between Chile and the developed world. There are also other existing research projects that the student can assist on if interested. For more information on this project, contact Shivani Anand: shivani.anand@gmail.com Return to top Saligan Alternative Legal Assistance - Quezon City, Philippines Positions Available: 1 Placement Length: 10-12 weeks Saligan was founded in 1987, as a legal resource to assist women, workers, farmers, fishers, the urban poor and local communities. Saligan aims to make legal knowledge available to the many rather than the few. In this regard, it has trained almost 2000 paralegals in total, who act as important conduits between the government and local communities. Saligan also advocates on a number of issues, including human trafficking, violence against women and children, land use conflicts, and labour matters regarding rights to collective organization and security of employment. The ILP Fellow will compose a final research project in one of the various areas which Saligan is concerned with. The Fellow will compose a final report that they will leave with Saligan and that Saligan can use for future lobbying in a specific area. It is likely that the project will be a comparative analysis about one topic and how other governments in surrounding countries are dealing with the issue through policy and legislative initiatives. In addition to this report, the Fellow will provide support with case files, lobbying, etc, by drafting memoranda or motions for cases Saligan is currently working on. For more information on this project, contact Dan Camenzuli: danzuli@hotmail.com Return to top ECPAT Philippines - Quezon City, Philippines Positions Available: 2 Placement Length: 10-12 weeks ECPAT Philippines is a member of ECPAT International - a global network of organizations and individuals working together for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. ECPAT Philippines advocates nationally for the elimination of the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) through policy advocacy, networking/information-sharing, and child protection. The ILP Fellows’ work will fall into three areas: legal protection and case work, legal research, and special projects. The student's work will fall into three areas: legal protection and case work, legal research, and special projects. The main component of the Fellows’ work will consist of researching and writing a report addressing local legislation and providing recommendations regarding the local legislation in Cebu, a popular tourist destination. The Fellows will have to travel to Cebu to interview officials including politicians, police and members of the social service department. The Fellows will also be engaged in various other minor projects like lobbying, drafting motions and memos and working on case files. For more information on this project, contact Dan Camenzuli: danzuli@hotmail.com Return to top Legal Aid of Cambodia - Phnom Penh, Cambodia Positions Available: 2 Placement Length: 10-12 weeks Legal Aid of Cambodia (LAC) is a non-governmental, independent, Khmer-administered, non-profit and non-political organization founded in 1995. LAC provides free, quality legal services to Cambodia’s poor in both criminal and civil cases. Since opening its doors, LAC has provided legal assistance in close to 15,000 cases and its caseload and resources only continue to grow. LAC envisions a just and fair Cambodian society, where everyone enjoys equal rights before the law. Its mission is to provide quality legal aid, legal and human rights education/outreach, as well as to advocate for the poor in Cambodia in order to ensure access to justice, promote respect for the law and human rights and advance legal and judicial reform. ILP Fellows will work in LAC’s Land Law Program. This program focuses on issues of illegal land grabbing and forced evictions, economic concessions, and logging by rich and powerful companies and individuals. The Fellows will assess the land-administration reform that has taken place to date and determine where improvements can be made. Fellows will also analyze the difference between international human rights legislation to which Cambodia is a party and the domestic reality in Cambodia. For instance, the Fellows’ research will likely include a consideration of the degree to which the Cambodian authorities are complying with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. For more information on this project, contact Alexander Schmitt: alexanderjschmitt@gmail.com Return to top UNDP Initiative on the Legal Empowerment of the Poor - Belgrade, Serbia Positions Available: 2 Placement Length: 10-12 weeks The UNDP country office was created in 2005 to facilitate formation of an accountable public sector, strengthen the rule of law and promote sustainable development. The UNDP’s three mission objectives are the promotion and creation of an efficient, accountable and people-centered public sector, of strengthened rule of law and equal access to justice, and of increased capacity to promote sustainable development. Legal Empowerment of the Poor is an agenda for poverty reduction and inclusive development which argues that exclusion from the law – or legal protections and opportunities – is a major barrier facing a majority of people in the developing world. It makes the case for focusing on four interrelated domains: access to justice, property rights, labour rights and business rights. Fellows will be engaged in gathering information on Serbian legislation, international law and case precedents that contribute to persuasive legal arguments for reform in the areas specified. Their arguments would support project proposals created by UNDP Serbia for approval of the Serbian Parliament. The specific project will be determined by the fellow in conjunction with his or her supervisor at UNDP in Serbia. For more information on this project, contact Corry Lomer: corry.lomer@gmail.com Return to top Institute for Advanced Studies GAP - Pristina, Kosovo Positions Available: 2 Placement Length: 10-12 weeks GAP was established to create a professional research and development environment commonly found in similar institutions in Western countries, with a view to fostering the development of civil society in Kosovo and providing opportunities for Kosovars to participate therein. Their current initiatives involve public policy, economic, and legal analysis. They provide studies and information to the government and other civil society organizations that cannot afford to conduct the research on their own. The ILP Fellows will assist in GAP’s efforts to analyze the degree to which the Kosovo society, and the Kosovar authorities in particular, have embraced and implemented the protections afforded minorities in the Kosovo Constitution. The Fellows will conduct an overview of the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms contained in the Kosovo Constitution and critically examine the extent to which several of these have been implemented in Kosovar society, with a special emphasis on the degree to which the international human rights agreements that are afforded constitutional status in Kosovo have been respected by the government. For more information on this project, contact Corry Lomer: corry.lomer@gmail.com Return to top Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) - New Delhi, India Positions Available: 1 Placement Length: 10-12 weeks HRLN is a collective of lawyers and social activists dedicated to the use of the legal system to advance human rights, combat human rights violations, and ensure access to justice for all. HRLN is one of the foremost organizations in the country working on access to justice for marginalized individuals and communities. In collaboration with effective communities, NGOs and the judiciary, HRLN also works on training in human rights law, law reform, monitoring and investigation into human rights abuse and ‘know-your-rights’ publications. The ILP Fellows will be working within HRLN’s Litigation and Advocacy initiatives. The litigation initiative focuses on pro bono representation and public interest petitions. Typical areas of law the litigation team focus on are child, disability, environment, and reproductive rights. The Advocacy Initiative focuses solely on human rights, raising public awareness through research and dissemination activities. These initiatives offer interns the opportunity to engage in legal research and drafting, dissemination of knowledge, and practical experience on both individual cases and public interest petitions. For more information on this project, contact Shivani Anand: shivani.anand@gmail.com Return to top Concerned for Working Children (CWC) - Bangalore, India Positions Available: 2 Placement Length: 10-12 weeks CWC registered as a society in 1985 and for the last decade and a half has been working on the issue of child labour. Its objectives are to work with children, their families as well as the larger communities so as to be able to declare areas as child labour free and also create supportive structures that are able to sustain a child rights friendly social transformation. CWC empowers working children so that they may be their own first line of defence and participate in an informed manner in all decisions concerning themselves. Fellows will be involved in the research and development stages of a new project to address the serious failures of the Indian Juvenile Justice System, including issues of police brutality, abuse in Government Homes, incompetent Probation Officers and unacceptable delays. CWC proposes a new independent body, staffed by full time professionals who will explain to each child brought to a Children’s Home why they are there, and what they can expect while there. The counsellors will investigate the child’s circumstances, establish whether the child needs additional services (doctor, lawyer, social worker, etc), and represent the child at hearings before the Child Welfare Committee. For more information on this project, contact Shivani Anand: shivani.anand@gmail.com Return to top Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) - Cairo, Egypt Positions Available: 2 Placement Length: 10-12 weeks CIHRS aims at promoting respect for the principles of human rights and democracy, analyzing the difficulties facing the application of International Human Rights Law and disseminating Human Rights Culture in the Arab Region as well as engaging in dialogue between cultures. CIHRS works on human rights advocacy, research and human rights education (both for youth and ongoing professional development for Human Rights Defenders). CIHRS is a major publisher of information, including a magazine, an academic quarterly, and scores of books concerning human rights. Each fellow will produce a final research output or paper that may be used as a submission or intervention to the UN, be featured in the CIHRS Annual Report, or be included in other CIHRS publications. Fellows will also be able to participate in the human rights training and education sessions conducted at CIHRS. Additionally, fellows will have the opportunity to contribute to other projects at CIHRS when suitable, including the research or drafting of formal interventions and submissions to the United Nations, preparing country reports to submit for the Universal Periodic Review, or writing press releases or articles to be published by CIHRS. For more information on this project, contact Alexander Schmitt: alexanderjschmitt@gmail.com Return to top The Women’s Legal Aid Centre - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Positions Available: 2 Placement Length: 10-12 weeks The WLAC is a human rights organization, striving to promote and protect women and children’s rights by helping to bring about gender equality in Tanzania through legal aid, legal research, networking, publications and outreach programmes. WLAC ‘s Secretariat has 17 full-time staff working in four inter-connected departments, and approximately 35 staff nationally. WLAC is currently working on a Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women shadow report, to be finalized and published in 2012. The WLAC hopes to use the report not only to increase awareness amongst rights holders (women in Tanzania), but also the duty bearers (government) which has the power to protect, enhance, and respect such rights. The organization has a national profile, which allows it to participate in government round table discussions, and to campaign for duty bearers to uphold their responsibilities under domestic and international frameworks. ILP Fellows will assist in the production of the CEDAW report. Fellows will be required to conduct extensive primary and secondary research on women’s legal issues in Tanzania. Fellows might also travel to some of WLAC’s rural area paralegal clinics to conduct interviews or to assess the legal and culture challenges of women seeking access to justice. For more information on this project, contact Marc Rodrigue: marcrodrigue@gmail.com Return to top Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) - Kampala, Uganda Positions Available: 2 Placement Length: 10-12 weeks Since its inception in 1991, FHRI has grown to become one the most respected and active organizations dedicated to the protection and the promotion of human rights in East Africa. FHRI’s goal is to remove impediments to democratic development and the meaningful enjoyment of the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the 1995 Constitution and other internationally recognized human rights instruments. FHRI achieves its mandate by enhancing the exchange of information and best practices through training, education, research, advocacy, lobbying and strategic partnerships. ILP Fellows will be working in the Elections and Democracy initiative at FHRI. The overall mandate of the initiative is to raise awareness on the free and fair hearing of post election petitions after the country’s national elections. The fellows will contribute to the research and writing of a detailed and scholarly research report that will outline the strengths and weaknesses of Uganda’s current electoral plurality system. This report will be distributed across Uganda and will serve as an informational and advocacy source for the public, government and civil society. It will also provide useful information needed to develop and direct future initiatives in this area and inspire law and policy reform. For more information on this project, contact Marc Rodrigue: marcrodrigue@gmail.com Return to top Defence For Children International (DCI) - Freetown, Sierra Leone Positions Available: 2 Placement Length: 10-12 weeks DCI-SL advocates and monitors the proper implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child in Sierra Leone. DCI-SL provides psychosocial and legal support to children in conflict with the law, child victims of human rights violation and other abuses as well as children and youth at risk of coming in conflict or contact with the law (e.g. street children, girl sex workers and out of school children). Activities include campaigning for the promotion and correct implementation of the provisions of the Child’s Rights Act, Legal Advocacy for child victims of gender based violence and other forms of child abuse, campaigning to stop corporal punishment and other forms of violence against children particularly in the school environment, and reintegration of orphans and vulnerable children into communities. Sierra Leone is a county emerging from over a decade of vicious civil war in which women and girls were a primary target of terrible forms of Sexual Violence. Many people who work or live with children lack knowledge about child abuse and about actions to take for the redress and the rehabilitation of the child. DCI-SL has undertaken a comprehensive initiative to create awareness and more practically provide communities and victims with the legal mechanisms and support to deal with Sexual Violence. The fellows will take part in organizing trainings, writing (compilation) of periodic reports, field visits, advocacy meetings, and the development of key documents e.g district referral protocols, training guides etc. For more information on this project, contact Dave Shellnutt: dshellnutt@hotmail.com Return to top 2010In 2010, ILP sent 20 students to fill positions in 12 organizations. The placements were:Ateneo Human Rights Center - Philippines (Manila) Centre for Applied Legal Studies - South Africa (Johannesburg) Centre for Child and the Law, National Law School of India - India (Bangalore) ECPAT Philippines (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) - Philippines (Manila) Human Rights Law Network - India (New Delhi) Institute for Advanced Studies - Kosovo (Pristina) Legal Aid of Cambodia - Cambodia (Phnom Penh) Nigeria Bar Association, Human Rights Institute - Nigeria (Lagos) Saligan Alternative Legal Assistance - Philippines (Manila) Foundation for Human Rights Institute - Uganda (Kampala) United Nations Development Program: Legal Empowerment of the Poor - Serbia (Belgrade) Ateneo Human Rights Center - Philippines (Manila) The Ateneo Human Rights Centre (AHRC) was established by the School of Law of Ateneo de Manila University in the aftermath of the 1986 People Power Revolution that overthrew Ferdinand Marcos' authoritarian regime. Its mandate is to advocate for human rights and raise awareness of human rights issues in the Philippines. The AHRC is engaged in providing: legal assistance; research and publications; law and policy reform advocacy; education and training; institution building; and law school curriculum and values formation. The ILP fellow will be contributing to researching for the Child Rights Desk and the Women and Migrant Workers Desk. The Children's Rights Desk aims to promote and advance the rights of all children in the Philippines by researching and proposing legislative measures and policies that are designed to protect and advance the rights of the child. The Women and Migrant Workers' Rights Desk aims to promote the rights of women and migrant workers both within the Philippines, and those who have moved abroad. To this end, it focuses on organizing and participating in regional conferences on the rights of women and migrant workers. It also conducts research on victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and incest, and the ways in which these crimes are treated in the judiciary. Positions available: 1 Project Director: Shivani Anand (shivani_ozlaw@rocketmail.com) Centre for Applied Legal Studies - South Africa (Johannesburg) The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) is an independent organization committed to promoting democracy, justice, equality, and peace in South Africa through the realization of human rights for all South Africans under a just constitutional and legal order. CALS was a pioneer in the development of Human Rights in South Africa in the apartheid years and played a central role in the drafting of the South African Constitution. Each fellow will have an opportunity to contribute to CALS' litigation work. Beginning in 2010 the Litigation Unit will service all of CALS' research programs, which consist of the following: basic services (water and electricity); domestic violence; environmental law; housing and evictions; social security; and education. In 2010, CALS' environmental program will be focusing on the effects of coal-mining on marginalized communities in Mpumalanga province. The environmental program also plans a review of environmental enforcement mechanisms that will be carried out by researching the effectiveness of criminal investigations and prosecutions that take place when environmental legislation is contravened. This legislation has not been effective thus far. With this in mind, ILP Fellows will analyze what this ineffectiveness is attributable to and consider what alternatives might practically be adopted to make the system more effective. Positions Available: 2 Project Director: Ian Medcalf (IanMedcalf@osgoode.yorku.ca) Centre for Child and the Law, National Law School of India - India (Bangalore) The Centre for Child and the Law (CCL) was established in 1996 as a specialized Research Centre within the National Law School of India University (NLSIU). CCL seeks to institutionalize a child rights culture in society that will enable children to live with dignity and respect. It aims to ensure social justice, human rights, and quality of life for all children, with special focus on equitable quality education, care, protection and justice for marginalized children in India. ILP fellows will be working in the Juvenile Justice division of the CCL and will be compiling research on the impact of detention on the lives of children and conducting comparative research on children's courts. Positions available: 2 Project Director: Shivan Anand (shivani_ozlaw@rocketmail.com) ECPAT Philippines (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) - Philippines (Manila) ECPAT Philippines is a member of ECPAT International--a global network of organizations and individuals working together for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. ECPAT International seeks to encourage the world community to ensure that children everywhere enjoy their fundamental rights, free and secure from all forms of sexual exploitation. The fellows will assist the ECPAT legal team and general staff with work in three areas: legal protection and case work, legal research, and special projects like education and community awareness. The ILP fellows are expected to assist the ECPAT staff attorney with documentation and analysis of the commercial sexual exploitation of children, particularly in resort areas. The ILP fellows are also expected to assist on cases in relation to the implementation of the Child Protection Law and the Anti-Trafficking Law, including preparing pleadings/memorandums, and assisting the staff attorney at court. Positions available: 2 Project Director: Dan Camenzuli (danzuli@hotmail.com) Human Rights Law Network - India (New Delhi) Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) is a collective of lawyers and social activists dedicated to the use of the legal system to advance human rights, combat human rights violations and ensure access to justice for all. The HIV/AIDS Initiative has been pivotal in advancing the legal rights of those who are infected and affected by HIV, particularly those groups that are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS transmission (i.e. women, commercial sex workers, men who have sex with men, etc.). The Initiative also plays a major role in increasing awareness about HIV/AIDS and human rights amongst the various stakeholders in the community, especially civil society organizations. The Human Trafficking Initiative undertakes a host of activities aimed at spreading awareness about trafficking, and providing legal aid and advocacy to the victims of trafficking and assisting in their successful reintegration in society. This initiative currently offers the following services in its bid to inform people about this crime and provide support to victims: legal aid, advocacy, counseling, rehabilitation, 'Know Your Rights' publications, and collaboration with other grassroots level NGOs. Positions available: 2 (one in the HIV/AIDS Initiative, one in the Human Trafficking Initiative) Project Director: Jen Quito (jen.quito@gmail.com) Institute for Advanced Studies - Kosovo (Pristina) The Institute for Advanced Studies GAP ("GAP") is a think tank that was established to attract professionals by creating a professional research and development environment commonly found in similar institutions in Western countries. GAP endeavours to present the public with important information and in-depth analyses of pressing legal, economic, political and social issues facing Kosovar society. GAP also provides Kosovars with an opportunity to research, develop and implement projects that strengthen Kosovar society as a whole. GAP has suggested that the ILP fellows conduct an overview of the Kosovo Constitution and critically examine the extent to which it has been implemented. In particular, GAP has an interest in the degree to which the international human rights agreements that have constitutional status in Kosovo have been respected by the government. The ILP fellows are thus likely to direct a good deal of their efforts towards GAP's assessment of the government's compliance (or lack thereof) with Kosovo's international human rights obligations. Positions Available: 2 Project Director: Ian Medcalf (IanMedcalf@osgoode.yorku.ca) Legal Aid of Cambodia - Cambodia (Phnom Penh) Legal Aid of Cambodia (LAC) was launched as a Khmer-run initiative to provide legal services for the poor. In 1994, international non-governmental organizations began to train legal defenders to represent imprisoned Cambodians who could not afford to pay for legal services. The Land Law Program at LAC focuses on issues such as illegal land grabbing, economic concessions and logging by rich and powerful companies and individuals. Forced evictions Ð a major and growing problem in Cambodia - take place against a backdrop of rapid but unplanned economic growth, rising land prices, entrenched corruption, and an absence of secure land tenure for urban and rural low-income households. The fellows will be tasked with reviewing the legal regime that is failing to address the needs of Cambodians who find themselves in vulnerable positions as a consequence of precarious land tenure rights. This will involve assessing the land-administration reform that has taken place to date and determining where improvements can be made. In addition to legal research skills, preference will be given to students who can contribute to the following areas: management, business communication, marketing, and fund-raising. Positions available: 2 Project Director: Ian Medcalf (IanMedcalf@osgoode.yorku.ca) Nigeria Bar Association, Human Rights Institute - Nigeria (Lagos) The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is the umbrella organization of all lawyers admitted to practice law in Nigeria. It has continued to act as the conscience of the nation especially as it relates to the promotion of democracy, respect for rule of law and social/economic empowerment. The Human Rights Institute (HRI), established by the NBA, has a large mandate to set up a national action plan on human rights, promote the independence of the judiciary and legal profession, implement international human rights conventions, acquire and disseminate human rights information, and advance human rights enforcement in Nigeria. Fellows will assist in researching human rights abuses (e.g. definition of human rights abuses), speaking with victims and witnesses to record all pertinent information, compiling the information, and writing and editing completed sections. The Fellows' detailed report will provide lawmakers and authorities with a real understanding of the depth and severity of human rights abuses in Nigeria. In addition, Fellows will be creating training materials for the Human Rights Training Program and specifically focusing on international and national human rights legislation, conventions, and protocols. Positions available: 2 Project Director: Dave Shellnutt (DShellnutt@hotmail.com) Saligan Alternative Legal Assistance - Philippines (Manila) Saligan was founded in 1987, as a legal resource to assist women, workers, farmers, fishers, the urban poor and local communities. Saligan seeks to effect societal change by working with women, the basic sectors, and local communities for their empowerment through the creative use of the law and legal resources. The fellow will be conducting a comparative analysis of Canada, Philippines, and other Southeast Asian countries on the treatment, policies, and legislative protection of agricultural workers. Workers and their unions in the Philippines have had their liberties severely curtailed despite the country's constitutional commitment to workers rights. Many unions are not allowed to strike and union members often suffer government-initiated violence in the form of harassment, intimidation, and even death. The violation of labour standards has led to a decline in the number of unions in recent years The ILP fellow will compose a final report that the organization can use in its future lobbying initiatives. Other deliverables include drafting memoranda and motions for case files. Positions available: 1 Project Director: Dan Camenzuli (danzuli@hotmail.com) Foundation for Human Rights Institute - Uganda (Kampala) The Foundation for the Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) is an independent, non-governmental, non-partisan and not-for-profit human rights advocacy organization. FHRI's goal is to remove impediments to democratic development and the meaningful enjoyment of the fundamental freedoms; it achieves its mandate by enhancing the exchange of information and best practices through training, education, research, advocacy, lobbying, and strategic partnerships. ILP fellows will be working in the Access to Health Initiative at FHRI. The overall mandate of the Access to Health Initiative is to raise awareness about the multitude of challenges in the health care arena that Uganda faces. It strives to defend the basic right to life and health for all those who face hurdles in achieving equal and sufficient access to health care. Advocates working in the Initiative will try and achieve this mandate through the publication and distribution of a detailed and scholarly research report that will outline the strengths and weaknesses of Uganda's current health care system and its policies. This report will be distributed across Uganda and will serve as an informational and advocacy source for the public, government, and civil society. It will also provide useful information needed to develop and direct future initiatives in this area and inspire law and policy reform. Positions available: 2 Project Director: Jen Quito (jen.quito@gmail.com) United Nations Development Program: Legal Empowerment of the Poor - Serbia (Belgrade) The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) started its initiative on Legal Empowerment of the Poor in 2007, consisting of a global project with the active involvement of nine country offices (including Serbia) that are all implementing or initiating projects on the Legal Empowerment of the Poor. The country office was created to facilitate formation of an accountable public sector, strengthen the rule of law, and promote sustainable development. ILP is interested in working on legal research and analysis in the fields of access to justice (e.g. free legal aid), labour law (e.g. social security mechanisms for workplace injuries), property law (e.g. affirming squatters' rights) and business regulation (e.g. deregulation of business for street vendors). In particular, fellows would be engaged in gathering information on Serbian legislation, international law and case precedent that would go towards a collaborative report of persuasive legal arguments for reform in the areas specified. Their arguments would support project proposals created by UNDP Serbia for approval of the Serbian Parliament. Positions available: 2 Project Director: Marlene Costa (MarleneCosta@osgoode.yorku.ca) 2009Asociación Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia (ACIJ); Buenos Aries, ArgentinaACIJ is a civil rights organization in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Their mission is to promote and defend the fundamental rights of the most vulnerable groups in society, while contributing to the strengthening of institutions in Argentina’s public sector. For more information about the organization, please visit: http://www.acij.org.ar ACIJ’s Equality of Education program is undertaking a major budgetary analysis of Buenos Aires’ 2010 city budget. Their main concern is examining how funds are being allocating to schools, particularly those in the poorer districts of Buenos Aires. It has been found that the City of Buenos Aires, rather than neutralizing asymmetries within the city, generally ends up discriminating against those of a low-income background through the provision of an unequal and inferior education system to those neighbourhoods. The main goal of this project is for the ILP fellows to formulate a legal argument which can be used to advocate for more equal distribution of resources to poorer school districts in Buenos Aires, specifically as it relates to the city’s 2010 budget. Though the Fellows may also be expected to participate in other community activities and ACIJ initiatives, their main task will be to produce a copy of the report both in English and in Spanish. ACIJ Fellows Kathrin Furniss Kathrin previously briefly lived in Argentina and is excited to return in order to do something more related to her personal interests; namely within the fields of social justice and legal activism. Before coming to law school, Kathrin completed a Combined Honours Degree in International Development and Spanish, which will assist her greatly in this placement. Having traveled, worked, or studied in Spain, East Africa, India and throughout South America, she regards this opportunity as a way of expanding her knowledge about an issue, a legal system, and a culture: something she finds both personally and professionally rewarding. During the 2008-09 academic year, Kathrin worked with ILP as a Junior Project Director, and was pleased to be a part of the organization in an executive capacity as well. Adrian Reyes Ateno Human Rights Centre; Makati City, Philippines The Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC) was established by the School of Law at Ateneo de Manila University to advocate for human rights and raise awareness of human rights issues in the Philippines. Many of the lawyers working at the AHRC are also some of the most renowned legal scholars in the Philippines and throughout Asia. To assist them, the AHRC has established a formal internship program to provide interns with practical and relevant legal experience. Two Research Fellows will be working with the Children’s Rights and Indigenous People’s Desks. The Children’s Rights Desk aims to promote and advance the rights of all children. The unit has a variety of objectives, including:
Research Fellows will engage in a number of tasks/activities, including (but not limited to) conducting legal research, field investigations and client interviews, hosting training seminars and participating in litigation work. Additionally, it is also expected that Research Fellows will be involved in the production of AHRC publications, including the Philippine Human Rights Monitor. This will involve doing both field and legal research to compile data and information on the human rights situation in the country, documenting measures taken by both the government and civil society, and keeping up-to-date with recent developments (both national and international) in the realm of human rights. A placement with the AHRC will allow Research Fellows to develop their legal research and writing skills, whether through briefs or memos, or articles/editorials for the organization’s various publications. Each Desk of the AHRC also provides legal assistance and legal aid for specific marginalized groups, so Research Fellows will be involved in litigation that extends all the way up to the Philippine Supreme Court. The Research Fellows will also be able to develop an extensive international network of legal contacts that will be valuable throughout their legal career. The AHRC is a widely recognized human rights NGO, and its direct affiliation with one of the most prestigious law schools in the Philippines only serves to heighten its profile. Some of the country’s leading legal scholars and practicing lawyers teach at Ateneo Law School and work with the AHRC. Research Fellows will be able to maximize their learning opportunities and take advantage of the resources and expertise that both organizations have to offer. Lastly, Research Fellows will be able to live and work in a country like the Philippines. The Philippines also serves as a convenient jump-off point for exploring Southeast Asia, East Asia and Australia. Ateno Fellows Tim Hudek Tim has just finished his first year at Osgoode Hall and will be the Events Officer for ILP during the 2009-2010 school year. He completed his undergraduate degree in political studies from the University of Manitoba in 2005 and worked and travelled until he decided to come to law school. While working on his undergraduate degree, he was part of a student group that attempted to make change at a local and international level through a number of various campaigns and through the publication of an independent newspaper. Tim joined ILP when he came to Osgoode to continue to try and make a positive difference at an international level. He looks forward to furthering the protection of child and indigenous rights this summer while working with Ateno Human Rights Centre in the Philippines and exploring as much as Asia as possible. Shivani Anand Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy; Bangalore, India Three fellows will be working at the Centre for Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, a research centre at the National Law School of India University in Bangalore, India. The Centre is a new research initiative at the National Law School and comprises a number of academics (lawyers and social scientists) working in the area of social exclusion. The goal of the Centre is to generate and disseminate knowledge and contribute to the expansion of socio-legal research and critically informed jurisprudence in the area of law and social exclusion. The Centre performs research and develops educational programs (within the law school and for the wider community, including key state and civil society actors) to further the empowerment of excluded and marginalized communities. The fellows will be assisting the Centre with two specific research projects (one fellow will be assigned to one research project). The first is a study of resettlement and rehabilitation in India. The fellow is expected to be examining a new national policy promulgated by the Indian government for resettlement and rehabilitation of various groups as a result of development projects (e.g. dams and the like). Various states within India already have policies in place so this would entail a comparative study of the state policies and the national policies (and perhaps policies from outside of India). This research may also involve some study of conflict-induced internally-displaced persons. The second research project is a study of mass media in India. Specifically, the fellow will be examining a new broadcast regulation bill and a proposed self-regulation schemes for the media. This is particularly interesting as India moves away from state control in this area and others. Particular focus will be paid to exclusionary aspects of the regulation of mass media (for example, news broadcasts over the radio are banned in India, whereas news shows are prominent on TV - TV and radio have different reach). The role of interest groups in the control of media will also be examined. CSSEIP Fellows Porsha Gauthier Porsha has just completed her third year student at Osgoode Hall Law School. Prior to entering Osgoode, Porsha worked full time in the music and entertainment industry in marketing, advertising, publicity, and promotions. Her resume includes working in Toronto, Los Angeles, and Vancouver. Porsha’s educational background includes a Communications diploma from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Victoria, BC. Porsha’s personal interest in social justice issues led her from the corporate arena to law school by way of specific interest in sustainable development. Exploring the many curriculum options of Osgoode, Porsha participated in the Immigration and Refugee Law Intensive Program in her second year and worked with Barbara Jackman for several months researching civil liberties issues. Porsha will be spending most of her summer working in India on an ILP project with the National Law School in Bangalore. While there, she will be performing research and legislative drafting on issues of social exclusion and inclusive policy. Emma Duggan Charlie Sherman Charlie will be conducting research on national and state resettlement policies for internal displacements caused by development projects and conflict during his fellowship at the Centre for Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy at the National Law School of India in Bangalore. Prior to law school, Charlie completed his Honours B.A. in Political Science at Dalhousie University. As an undergraduate, his academic focus was on international relations and development. He also travelled to Hong Kong to study international business and management. After graduating, Charlie spent two months travelling in South America and subsequently travelled to Panama with a development firm to research commercial opportunities. Charlie chose to come to Osgoode because of its range of global opportunities, including the International, Comparative and Transnational Law Stream, as well as ILP. As a first year student, he was involved in the ILP Research Development Committee as well the Constitutional Review Committee. He was also an Editor of the German Law Journal and a member of the Osgoode basketball team. This year Charlie will be helping to lead ILP as Research Director, and in particular will be further developing the ILP Research Program. End Child Prostition and Trafficking; Quezon City, Philippines Two fellows will be hosted by ECPAT Philippines (‘End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes’) in Quezon City (Manila), Philippines. ECPAT Philippines advocates nationally for the elimination of the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) through policy advocacy, networking/information-sharing, and child protection. This is the second year of partnership between ECPAT Philippines and ILP. The fellows will assist the ECPAT legal team and general staff with work in three areas: legal protection and case work, legal research, and special projects like education and community awareness. The ILP fellows are expected to assist the ECPAT staff attorney with documentation and analysis of the commercial sexual exploitation of children, particularly in resort areas. The ILP fellows are also expected to assist on cases in relation to the implementation of the Child Protection Law and the Anti-Trafficking Law, including preparing pleadings/memorandums, and assisting the staff attorney at court. The legal research is expected to be specifically in the area of a proposed anti-child pornography law and will include some lobbying work for amendments to the legislation. ECPAT Fellows Jina Lee Jina has just completed her first year at Osgoode. The ILP project she is involved in is the ECPAT- Philippines internship. Jina is very excited to be part of this project, because it is exactly what she want to do upon graduation from Osgoode. She believes this experience will give her a better idea as to what the obstacles are to eradicating child sexual exploitation, and the role lawyers can play in this area of social injustice. Jina has wanted to work in the area of anti-child sexual exploitation from a very young age. While her undergraduate studies were in biochemistry, she entered law school because she believes a legal degree will be an asset in the area of social justice she wishes to be involved in. Daniel Camenzuli Dan became involved in ILP in his first week at Osgoode Hall Law School. He believed the followships presented “an amazing experience to go to another country and working on social policy”. During his first year with ILP he became the director of the Lorne Waldman Advocacy Project and he will be joining the 2009-10 executive as a project director. Through ILP, Dan has developed an interest in international development and foreign social policy. He is very excited about is internship and the opportunity to work closely with other ILP members. Perhaps the most attractive aspect of ILP is the fact that it is completely student facilitated and organized. He wishes to express his gratitude at being part of ILP and the opportunity it provides to future Osgoode students. Foundation for Human Rights Initiative; Kampala, Uganda The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) is one the most respected and active advocacy organizations dedicated to protection and promotion of human rights in East Africa. The students will take the lead in developing a law reform report on the juvenile justice in Uganda under the Research and Advocacy Division. There is currently very limited scholarly research conducted on this issue in the country, so this will become an important published work. The report will be developed through legal research, court monitoring, and in-depth interviews. Students will have the opportunity to engage with high-level government officials, academic and legal experts, welfare and probation officers, Family and Children Court magistrates, remand centre staff, and police officers on one of the timeliest issues in the country. The research will bring students to a number of magistrate courts, juvenile detention centers, and rehabilitation schools across the country. Applicants should be aware that the work will require some independent travel on the part of the fellows. While students will not be expected to travel to Northern Uganda, they will be collaborating with a number of international NGOs active in the region on the particular circumstances of child soldiers. The overall objective of the project is to develop a comprehensive report on juvenile justice in Uganda that can be used as both a resource for the public, government, and civil society and also as an advocacy tool. There will be at least 250 copies of the report published and distributed across Uganda. In addition to the report, students will also offer to assist in the work of any of the other divisions of FHRI, which could include working on cases of torture victims before the Ugandan Human Rights Commission, developing mitigation pleas for condemned prisoners, and adult prison monitoring. Further information is available at http://www.fhri.or.ug FHRI Fellows Brooke Camlis Brooke will be travelling to Uganda to work at the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative and will be working on juvenile justice reform while there. Recently completing her first year at Osgoode, Brooke is originally from Windsor, Ontario and completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Windsor. For many years, Brooke was involved with outreach programs designed for inner-city youth. Working with these disadvantaged children was a catalyst for her entering law school. She first heard about ILP when her orientation week leaders promoted it and subsequently became involved and was thrilled to learn about the fellowship program, and in particular about this project. This project is a fusion of her interest in international law and child advocacy. This summer, she looks forward to enhancing the knowledge she has gained in her first year at Osgoode, experiencing the Ugandan culture, and utilizing her skills to help the organization. Ashley Audet Ashley is incredibly excited to be travelling to Uganda this summer as an ILP fellow to work with the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative leading the research and writing of a report on juvenile justice. The FHRI fellowship has stirred Ashley’s passion for international law, which stems from her background in political science and has been fuelled substantially by her past travels through East Africa after graduating from McGill in 2006. Ashley’s desire and commitment to pursuing a career in social justice and public international law is the reason she chose to attend law school and she selected Osgoode based on its reputation for international programs. She is also incredibly passionate about working with children and before coming to Osgoode Ashley spent a year teaching French and phys ed in Toronto. She has also spent the past several summers as one of the directors of a camp in Algonquin Park. Ashley is incredibly honoured to have been chosen for this fellowship and believes that it will be invaluable in helping her to realize her ultimate goal of a career advancing human rights, especially those of children, around the world. Human Rights Law Network: HIV/AIDS Initiative; Dehli, India The Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) is a collective of lawyers and social activists dedicated to the use of the legal system to advance human rights, combat human rights violations and ensure access to justice for all. The mandate of the HIV/AIDS Initiative is to protect all persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS against all forms of discrimination (social, familial, educational, employment, medical, etc.) and defend their basic right to life and health. The HIV/AIDS Initiative will be hosting two Research Fellows (who will join 2 fellows working with the People’s Patent Group with HRLN in Delhi). The opportunity to engage in legal research, legal drafting, fact-finding, planning workshops/conferences and extensive field work. There are also plenty of opportunities for litigation work, as interns can expect to have several cases filed during their term. Due to the expected length of the Research Fellowship (3-4 months), interns are also expected to be involved in the day-to-day operations of the HIV/AIDS Initiative. The Research Fellow is expected to, among others:
Jen Quito Jennifer Quito is a graduate of the University of Toronto, where she completed a Specialist Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies with a minor in Sociology. Looking to pursue her strong interest in social justice and the law, Jennifer worked as a Community Legal Worker at the Refugee Law Office of Legal Aid Ontario, where she represented refugees with respect to their immigration matters. Having been inspired to continue to work towards social justice through the framework of the law, Jennifer began her studies at Osgoode Hall Law School, where she will be entering second year in fall 2009. During her time at Osgoode, Jennifer volunteered with Pro Bono Students Canada at the HIV/AIDS Clinic of Legal Aid Ontario, as well as the Community Legal Aid Service Program at Osgoode. After her first year, Jennifer interned at the Human Rights Law Network in New Delhi, India. During her second year Jennifer will be participating in the clinical intensive program at Parkdale, as well as serving as a Project Director for ILP. Arlene Mack Arlene is a 3rd year joint JD/MBA student here at Osgoode who spend her summer working for the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) in Delhi, India assisting with their HIV/AIDS initiative. HRLN is a collective group of activists and lawyers working to advance human rights and combat violations against these rights. Arlene assisted with public interest litigation, research, education, and advocacy in the area of HIV/AIDS through ILP’s partnership with HRLN. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, Arlene embarked on a journey to Brazil to work with impoverished children. The experience changed her perspective on life and instilled in her the belief that it is important to seek out experiences which enable one to help positively affect others lives and where one is positively affected, in turn. The ILP fellowship is an unparalleled opportunity to interact broaden legal perspectives, acquire practical skills, and moreover, develop a fundamental recognition of the importance of respect and acknowledgement for all individuals’ rights. Human Rights Law Network: People’s Patent Group; Dehli, India The People’s Patents Group (PPG) of the Human Rights Law Network, New Delhi will be hosting two research fellows (who will join 2 fellows working with the HIV/AIDS Initiative with HRLN in Delhi) to work on issues of Public Health and Intellectual Property and Agricultural Biotechnology and Intellectual Property. The primary focus of the People’s Patent Group (PPG) is using tools like Public Interest Litigation and legal interventions in the areas of public health, pharmaceutical drugs, agricultural biotechnology and intellectual property rights. Work at the PPG is primarily focused on legal research, publishing policy papers and organizing seminars for the sharing of knowledge on key policy issues. The primary focus of HRLN’s People’s Patent Group is:
HRLN: PPG Fellows Nigel DÕSouza Jasdeep Singh Bal Institute for Advanced Studies; Pristina, Kosovo The Institute for Advanced Studies GAP (“GAP”) endeavours to mobilize professionals to address Kosovo’s economic, political and social challenges through research and analysis. The ILP fellows’ principal task will be to assist in the development of GAP’s Political Development Program. This will involve contributing to GAP’s assessment of the government’s compliance (or lack thereof) with the obligations that Kosovo has both at international law and under its constitution. Many of these obligations are listed in the Ahtisaari Plan, as well as in European and other international human rights legislation that Kosovo aspires to incorporate into its political system. ILP fellows will highlight inconsistencies in legislation passed by Kosovo’s parliament that purports to be based on European and international standards as well as the Ahtisaari Plan. ILP fellows will also participate in a public engagement campaign through which they will have opportunity to interact with Kosovar society at workshops, conferences, and townhall discussions whose aim is to provide the public with insight into the difficulties that confront Kosovo’s government with a view to encouraging public participation in the solution of these problems. Day to day tasks will involve: analysing laws, comparing them with similar legislation in other countries, creating summaries and policy briefs and presenting research at workshops. The project will contribute to the long term objective of strengthening the rule of law in Kosovo, vis à vis the development of accountability and transparency in the legislature, as well as cultivating an environment of open public discussion with regard to proposed legislation to be passed by the National Assembly. It will also support legislative compliance with local, European and international standards, including human rights obligations. GAP Fellows Sondra Rebenchuk Sondra has just completed her first year at Osgoode Hall. This summer she will be working in Kosovo with the Institute for Advanced Studies (GAP). Specifically, she will be working on a project that keeps track of the government’s actions, and their constitutional adherence, since last year’s declaration of independence. Sondra will be based in the capital, Pristina, but the work should take her across the country, talking to local people about their experiences and issues, particularly as it relates to governmental corruption. Sondra has expressed her extreme excited to hear what everyone has to say about the new country, and to contribute to GAP’s work. Sondra’s undergraduate studies were in Political Science, and that is a large part of why she became involved with the ILP and this project specifically. She greatly enjoys studying this kind of political topic through a legal lens, and cannot wait to begin this unique academic and practical experience in Kosovo. Laura Siperman KITUO: The Centre for Legal Empowerment; Nairobi, Kenya Popularly referred to as KITUO, The Centre for Legal Empowerment is a Legal Aid Non-Governmental Organization facilitating access to justice to poor and marginalized communities/individuals across Kenya in the areas of land, labor and housing rights. KITUO’s core business lies in litigation, legal advice, community mobilization and organization. It partnered in ILP previously in 2007, hosting three Osgoode students. This summer, two fellows will be working within its new Forced Migration Program. The program hosts a number of projects devoted to the welfare of the statelessness, asylum seekers, deportees, evictees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Refugees in Kenya. The Urban Refugee Intervention Project (URIP) is one of the projects under the Forced Migration Program. KITUO has an established branch in Eastleigh that houses URIP project; this is where the fellows will be based. KITUO, in partnership with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), opened the URIP centre to assist urban refugees in need of legal services. The centre offers legal advice on all legal issues, legal representation, assists Refugees in obtaining work permits, birth and death certificates, Identity cards, referral service to our other partners and investigations of systematic Human Rights violations against refugees. URIP helps its target group in litigating on Public Interest issues touching on refugees, monitoring cases of Insecurity and Gender Based Violence, research, and Training on Human rights and Refugee law. The students will be given the opportunity to engage in every aspect of the project implementation, including:
KITUO Fellows Rathika Vasavithasan This summer, Rathika will undertake the forced migration clinic and research work at KITUO: The Centre for Legal Empowerment in Nairobi, Kenya. KITUO is a legal aid non-governmental organization facilitating access to justice to poor and marginalized communities and individuals across Kenya. Rathika will volunteer within all aspects of KITUO’s Urban Refugee Intervention Project (URIP) centre to assist urban refugees in need of legal services. The centre offers legal advice, legal representation, conducts legal research and advocacy, and assists refugees, IDP’s and stateless persons to access various services and supports. Rathika holds a BA (Philosophy & Women’s Studies) from McGill University and an MA (Philosophy of Education) from the University of Toronto. Prior to entering law school, Rathika spent several years working with immigrants, refugees and women who have experienced violence in front-line, policy, program development and governance positions with women’s centres and family service agencies in Toronto, and as a policy analyst with the Ontario ministries of Citizenship and Immigration and Community and Social Services. Her work with the provincial government focused on social policy development, and involved researching and developing options to enhance equity and access to social services for individuals from marginalized communities. Sebastian Tena Sebastian was born in Mexico City and lived there until 2000 when he left home to finish high school in Victoria, BC. In 2003, he moved to Montreux, Switzerland in order to study Hotel Management, but by 2005 his interests in International Relations brought him back to Canada to earn his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Relations at the University of Windsor. He is now in entering his second year at Osgoode Hall. Growing up in a family of lawyers, he has long been familiar with the subject, although not in the Canadian context. Despite this, however, he was not interest in studying law until he took an International Law course during his time at Windsor. Since then, he has become more and more confident that a career in law is the right choice for him. During the summer of 2009, Sebastian will be working in Nairobi, Kenya with Kituo, assisting the organization with the management and implementation of their Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons program. His interest in this project and in ILP in general grew out of his strong interest in International Law and the plight of refugees and displaced persons. United Nations Development Programme; Belgrade, Serbia & Jakarta, Indonesia Three fellows will be hosted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to work on the UN’s legal empowerment agenda. The Fellows will be working on the UNDP’s Legal Empowerment and Assistance for the Disadvantaged (LEAD) Programme. This project focuses on improving access to justice for the world’s poor and allowing them to use the justice system to protect their rights. Fellows will be working on a range of activities in country offices to support national initiatives to implement this program. Belgrade, Serbia Parisa Nikfarjam Parisa has just finished her first year at Osgoode Hall Law School and is now looking forward to a great summer experience as an intern with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia. She is particularly interested in being involved with the UNDP’s Legal Empowerment Project. The Project aims to increase the poor’s access to justice for the safeguarding of their rights, which is an area of social justice to which Parisa, as an Iranian immigrant who grew up in an underdeveloped country that desperately needed such measures, is especially dedicated. The legal empowerment of the various members of society is a commitment she has pursued as part of the Osgoode Hall Law School community through membership in Community Legal Aid Services Program (CLASP) and the Teen Osgoode Program for Secondary Schools (TOPSS). Commitment to and the success of these programs are indicative of the responsiveness of the Canadian legal culture to the needs of society. As such, Parisa looks forward not only to contributing to the UNDP’s efforts in Serbia this summer but also to gaining an appreciation of the Serbian political and legal culture. Marlene Costa Marlene will be entering her second year student at Osgoode Hall this fall and will be serving as a 2009-10 Project Director for ILP. She completed her undergraduate degree at Queen’s University with a B.A. (Hons.) in Psychology. Marlene has a long-standing interest in travel, people, and their interaction with the legal system. She decided that a good way of combining all of these fields was to get involved with International Legal Partnership at Osgoode, as it gave her the opportunity to learn more about the international legal context. During her fellowship with the UNDP in Serbia, Marlene has expressed a desire to bring a fresh perspective to the proposed legal aid structure through comparative legal analysis. She also hopes to gain insight on the inner workings of the organization and the regional judicial system, as well as bettering her legal research and writing skills. Jakarta, Indonesia Marc Rodrigue Growing up in Ottawa, Ontario, Marc always dreamed of travelling the world, providing what assistance he could and learning along the way through the experience. More recently as an undergrad at StFX University in Nova Scotia, the opportunity to do both has really been exceptional educational opportunity. Over the past few years, Marc has been heavily involved in both community building in rural Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and more recently, he was immersed in Nova Scotia political and educational fields, both through grassroots participation and high-level governmental lobbying and public relations. More importantly for his impending experience this summer, Marc was engaged into the Coady International Institute in Antigonish, which is a training centre for some of the most profoundly inspiring community workers from around the world. Having the opportunity to dialogue and gain insight into development from those with hands on experience inspired him to look for opportunities to become more engaged in development and empowerment both domestically and internationally. This summer, through the ILP Program at Osgoode Hall, Marc has the great pleasure of travelling to Jakarta, Indonesia to intern with the United Nations Development Programme. His main focus while in Indonesia will be with the U.N.’s pilot project Legal Empowerment and Assistance for the Disadvantaged (LEAD) Programme, which is involved in helping to build grassroots social infrastructure to advance access to justice in the country. It is his sincere hope that he will learn and be able to assist in the implementation of the U.N.’s empowerment goals, leading to long-term stability and access to the Indonesia’s system of justice for all of its citizens. Zambia AIDS Law Research and Advocacy Network; Lusaka, Zambia Zambia AIDSLaw Research & Advocacy Network (ZARAN) is a non-governmental organization that protects and promotes the rights of people living with and/or affected with HIV/AIDS through research, advocacy, education, training, and organizational capacity. Zambia has the seventh highest adult HIV prevalence rate, making HIV/AIDS an issue of paramount concern among Zambians. In response to this pandemic, ZARAN has conducted work in many priority areas including employment, health care, children’s rights, and has developed an AIDSLaw Clinic which provides free information, mediation, advocacy, and referral for people who have suffered HIV/AIDS discrimination. Two fellows will be slitting their time between clinic and research activities. The Clinic is mandated to provide legal services to people living with HIV/AIDS who have suffered discrimination in their workplace based on their actual or perceived HIV status. However, it has expanded to take up cases in other areas such as land law, family law, succession law, human rights law, immigration law, and public health law. Fellows will also be concurrently research and writing a comparative law paper on international human rights legislation and HIV/AIDS legislation of other Sub-Saharan African countries to help develop a proposal for HIV/AIDS legislation in Zambia. ZARAN Fellows Jamie Goodman Jamie will be participating in an ILP fellowship with the Zambia AIDS Law Research and Advocacy Network (ZARAN), located in Lusaka, Zambia. He is extremely excited for this project and for this incredible experience. ZARAN’s objective is to reduce discrimination towards HIV/AIDS-affected individuals through legal advocacy, and by influencing legislative changes at various levels of government. While in Zambia, Jamie and his co-fellow, Sevda Mansour, will each assist in providing legal advice to members of the Lusaka community who have suffered hardships on account of their HIV/AIDS status, and in addition they will each partake in their own research projects. An emerging area of concern in the region is false cure claims to HIV/AIDS, and Jamie intends to explore this issue over the summer and, ideally, to find some feasible and creative solutions to the problem through Zambia’s legal channels. Jamie considers this fellowship to be an amazing opportunity for him to explore his growing interest in human rights law and also his longstanding love of traveling. Being able to make a positive impact on the lives of others, while living in a beautiful and multi-faceted part of the world, is an incredible opportunity that he is very grateful for. Sevda Mansour 2008Philippines 2008ILP sent four students to work at ECPAT Philippines, which is an organization working for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. The fellows assisted attorneys with legal case work and conducted research for a report highlighting strengths and weaknesses of proposed amendments to the Child Protection Law in the Philippines. 
India 2008 Two students traveled to Delhi, India to work with Human Rights Law Network to assist the HIV/AIDS unit in their work. The students helped to plan and facilitate workshops for legal professionals with regards to issues pertaining to persons with HIV/AIDS, in addition to writing publications for HRLN on this topic. The two students are currently working on a report on Children, HIV and the Law. 
South Africa 2008 One student spent the summer working at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) in Johannesburg, South Africa. CALS is a human rights research, advocacy and litigation NGO. The fellow worked on public interest litigation cases in defense of mass evictions by both state and private land owners and the reversal of illegal water and electricity disconnections. 
2007Kenya 2007In partnership with Kituo cha Sheria (ÒKSSÓ), Kenya's largest legal aid organization, ILP fellows drafted a policy report evaluating the new Mining Act proposed by the Kenyan government. This will assist KSS and other NGOs in lobbying the government to ensure that the new mining regime reflects the best interests of Kenyans. In addition, the team produced self representation manuals for KSS's legal aid department. 
Philippines 2007 In partnership with the Canadian Urban Institute and the University San Agustin, ILP fellows are drafting a policy paper addressing challenges in the existing disaster management framework as implemented in response to the Guimaras oil spill in August, 2006. The paper will also propose reform alternatives from international models. In addition, the team is drafting an environmental rights primer to be translated and published by the University San Agustin in Iloilo City. 
Cambodia 2007 In partnership with CIDA, the ILP fellow conducted research and assisted in the drafting of legislation to implement the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (ÒTRIPSÓ) administered by the WTO in Cambodia. 
2006Kenya 2006RESEARCHING OPTIONS FOR A KENYAN NATIONAL JUDICIAL INSTITUTE In an agreement between ILP and the Judiciary of the Republic of Kenya, four students had the opportunity to research policy options towards the establishment of the National Judicial Institute. The interns travelled to three cities to interview officials to compile and present a report containing recommendations regarding the governance structure, curriculum, functions and course delivery.  Pictured (from left): Dola Indidis (Judiciary of Kenya), Muneeb Yusuf (ILP), Marty Venalainen (ILP), Charles Njai (Judiciary of Kenya), Catherine Nowak (ILP), and Nikhil Handa (ILP). |
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