Advocacy
We aim to bring documented facts before international and regional human-rights mechanisms.
What we do
Six areas of work, set out in our statutes, to advance justice and accountability.
Our statutes set six complementary objectives. Together they cover the whole chain from establishing the facts to justice and reparation.
Statutes, Art. 6.1
Monitoring and documenting violations
Credible justice starts with established facts. ACJR aims to monitor and document serious human-rights violations, using verifiable methods and reliable evidence.
It promotes internationally recognised investigation protocols, notably the Istanbul Protocol (documenting torture) and the Minnesota Protocol (investigating potentially unlawful deaths).
In practice
- Monitoring situations and documenting serious violations
- Promoting the Istanbul and Minnesota Protocols
- Verifiable methods and reliable evidence
- Safety, dignity and consent of victims and witnesses
Statutes, Art. 6.2
Legal analysis and strategic litigation
ACJR intends to prepare analysis, documentary case files and legal briefs.
In accordance with applicable law, this work supports justice mechanisms and strategic litigation before the competent courts.
In practice
- Legal analysis
- Documentary case files
- Legal briefs
- Support for justice mechanisms and strategic litigation
Statutes, Art. 6.3
Transitional justice
Societies emerging from conflict or crisis need truth, justice and lasting reform.
ACJR intends to support transitional-justice processes, in keeping with its origins: the association was founded as “Paix et la Transition Démocratique” (Peace and Democratic Transition).
In practice
- Truth-seeking
- Accountability
- Reparation
- Institutional reform
Statutes, Art. 6.4
Protecting human-rights defenders
Human-rights defenders, lawyers, journalists and people who report violations are often put at risk by their commitment.
ACJR intends to contribute to their legal protection and to advocate on their behalf, drawing in particular on the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
In practice
- Legal protection
- Advocacy
- Human-rights defenders, lawyers and journalists
- People who report violations
Statutes, Art. 6.5
Protecting vulnerable groups
Conflicts and crises hit the most vulnerable first.
ACJR aims to defend the rights of vulnerable people and groups, in particular women exposed to gender-based violence, children affected by conflict, refugees, displaced people and minorities.
In practice
- Women exposed to gender-based violence
- Children affected by conflict
- Refugees and displaced people
- Minorities
Statutes, Art. 6.6
Research and training
Defending human rights depends on knowledge. ACJR intends to produce and disseminate research, studies and analysis.
It intends to contribute to training human-rights actors at national and regional level.
In practice
- Research and studies
- Disseminating analysis
- Training for human-rights actors
- At national and regional level