The Experience of Nagorik Uddyog
This document has been produced in light of the increasing recognition that access to justice is a fundamental means of establishing human rights. Theoretically, everyone is entitled to draw on the judicial and legal structures of the state. Unfortunately, the gap between formal entitlements and actual access can be immense, and this means justice within the formal state system is typically beyond the means of most poor people in the South.
The report begins with a brief review of common problems associated with providing meaningful access to justice in poor countries. It then focuses on the activities of Nagorik Uddyog, a non-governmental organisation in Bangladesh whose approach offers a model that appears to have a substantial and sustainable impact on justice delivery. It is hoped that the lessons learned from NU’s experience will help guide future work in this area in Bangladesh and elsewhere.
By: Dina Siddiqi
2003 ISBN 1 898776 44 4 £10
Making justice democratic for the poorest women, men and children involves understanding the links between access to justice under the law and the wider issues of social and economic justice. This report explores how the poorest and most excluded communities can get access to justice that is appropriate, gender-sensitive and accountable, can enjoy personal safety and security for their property, and exercise their full human rights. First-hand reports focus on issues of access to and accountability of justice systems to the poorest people, from a gender perspective, and shared information on useful approaches, initiatives and strategies from South and North. 2001 ISBN 1 898776 29 6 £10
