Justice Education SocietyInternational Programs Ethiopia presentation prepared for BCCIC, March 2010

Justice Education Society• Established in 1989 as the Law Courts Education Society

• Mission: to improve access to the justice system through hands-on, targeted, two-way education between the public and those working in the justice system.

• Our programs have informed and educated more than a million people in the last 20 years.

• Our commitment: “Justice through Knowledge”

International • Over the past 20 years, the Justice Education Society has been

involved in international projects relating to “good governance and democratic institution building” and adapting the best international practices in different countries including:– China– Vietnam– South Africa– Ethiopia– Somalia– Guatemala– Mexico– Montenegro

Current JES International Projects

• Strengthening Justice Systems in Central America (Guatemala/Honduras/El Salvador) and Ethiopia

• Special Investigative Methods in Central America

• Mayan Aboriginal Knowledge Exchange in Guatemala

• Best Practices in Public Legal Education in Vietnam

JES Work in Ethiopia 2006-2010

Ethiopia • WHO Multi-country Study on Women’s Health and

Domestic Violence Against Women

• Women and girls in Ethiopia face serious forms of violence: – female genital mutilation (“FGM”)– sexual assault– early marriage– domestic violence within marriage– elder abuse

Project History Joining Hands Against Violence 2006-2007

1) Built partnership between judiciary, prosecutors, police, Ministry of Justice, and NGO’s with common purpose of improving conviction rates in domestic violence cases in Ethiopia

2) Developed training resources and organized training sessions for 260 justice professionals on new domestic violence legislation based on best practices in Canada and South Africa

3) Produced documentary: It’s Time African Women Join Hands

against Domestic Violence

4) Organized cross Canada public engagement events

Pilot Training of Trainers Session August 2007

Guaranteeing Human Rights by Building Effective Justice Systems

• Multinational program for strengthening justice systems in Ethiopia, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras

• Program offers a systematic approach that provides training to all segments of the justice sector– Police officers– Prosecutors– Judges

4 Year CIDA Program

The Program: Phase 1Crime Scene Examination Techniques

• Training for prosecutors and investigators in crime scene examination.

• How to protect the crime scene, to photograph and draw it.

• How to collect and protect the basic physical evidence (e.g. finger prints, hairs and fibres, blood and body fluids).

Phase 1 of Crime Scene Examination Techniques in Guatemala

The Program: Phase 2Major Crime Investigative Techniques and Major

Case Management

• Training for prosecutors and investigators.• The command triangle, investigative techniques,

case management and interviewing techniques.

Phase 2: Course on Major Crime Investigative Techniques and Major Case Management

The Program: Phase 3Oral Trial Skills Techniques

Training for prosecutors and judges.• Prosecutors

– organizing the case for trial

– witness preparation

– opening statement

– physical evidence handling

– direct examination; cross-examination; closing argument

• Judges

– court procedures

– evaluation of physical and testimonial evidence

– administration of the trial process

Ethiopian Program SummaryDeveloping partnerships with each sector

• Challenge: Charities and Societies Proclamation (CSO legislation)

• Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ethiopian Ministry of Justiceto allow JES to operate in Ethiopia

• Assessment of Ethiopian Police sectors December 2009

Ethiopian Police forensic expert demonstrates the current fingerprint techniques used in Ethiopia.

Year Two Work Plan

• Opening of JES office in Ethiopia

• Development and delivery of Crime Scene Examination course July 2010

• Assessment of Ethiopian Prosecutors and Judiciary in preparation of developing next phases Summer 2010

• Public Engagement in Canada

• Ethiopian Human Right Lawyer Semhal Getachew participates in IWD events and meetings in BC in March 2010

International Women’s Day Rally, Vancouver

OXFAM AGM, Vancouver

This activity has been undertaken with the financial support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Government of Canada.