Legal Empowerment Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

2025, THE ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN PROMOTING WOMEN’S LAND OWNERSHIP RIGHTS: A CASE STUDY OF WOMEN’S LEGAL AID CENTRE – KINONDONI, DAR ES SALAAM

This study examines the role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), with a focus on the Women’s Legal Aid Centre (WLAC), in promoting women’s land ownership rights in Kinondoni Municipal, Dar es Salaam. It assesses the effectiveness of WLAC’s initiatives, including legal aid services, community outreach, and awareness campaigns, in supporting women to access, own, and benefit from land. The background of the study highlights systemic challenges such as cultural norms favoring male inheritance, inadequate enforcement of land laws, and low awareness levels among women regarding their land rights. The study also incorporates a theoretical foundation grounded in feminist perspectives, legal empowerment theory, and land tenure systems to understand the structural barriers and contextual dynamics influencing women’s access to land.
A mixed-methods approach was used to collect and analyze data, combining structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews with WLAC staff, and document reviews. Data were gathered from women beneficiaries and legal professionals. Quantitative data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, while qualitative data provided detailed insights into the lived experiences of women and WLAC’s strategic responses. Findings revealed that many women were aware of WLAC’s services and had engaged in legal awareness programs. However, significant barriers remain, including cultural resistance, limited financial resources, and weak implementation of existing legal frameworks.
The study concludes that WLAC is instrumental in advancing women’s land rights, though its impact is constrained by both internal and external challenges. It recommends expanding awareness campaigns, enhancing partnerships with stakeholders, increasing community-level interventions, and securing sustainable funding to strengthen WLAC’s advocacy and legal aid services. The research contributes to a better understanding of how NGOs operate at the grassroots level to address gender inequality in land ownership and provides a foundation for future policy and programmatic improvements in Tanzania.

2025, dspace.bracu.ac.bd

The research team would like to extend their gratitude to the members of the Advisory Group whose advice has greatly enhanced our thoughts and writing.

2025, La política pública colombiana de restitución de tierras rurales campesinas en el marco de la acción sin daño: revictimizaciones y afectaciones de segundos ocupantes en las decisiones judiciales

Este trabajo analiza críticamente la política pública de restitución de tierras rurales en Colombia, enmarcada en la Ley 1448 de 2011, desde la perspectiva de la acción sin daño. Partiendo de un estudio contextual sobre el conflicto armado interno, el desplazamiento forzado y el despojo de tierras, se examina cómo la implementación de esta política ha generado nuevas formas de revictimización y afectaciones a los llamados “segundos ocupantes”. A través de un enfoque jurídico y basado en la experiencia directa de la autora como funcionaria de la Unidad de Restitución de Tierras, se identifica que la justicia transicional en Colombia, aunque dotada de mecanismos innovadores como la inversión de la carga de la prueba y el enfoque transformador, enfrenta serias limitaciones estructurales, institucionales y sociales. El trabajo argumenta que, sin una aplicación rigurosa del principio de acción sin daño y una articulación real entre los actores estatales, la política de restitución corre el riesgo de reproducir injusticias y debilitar el goce efectivo de los derechos fundamentales, tanto para las víctimas directas como para otros pobladores rurales. Finalmente, se propone el fortalecimiento del enfoque de no daño como elemento indispensable para evitar daños colaterales y avanzar hacia una verdadera justicia transformadora en el contexto colombiano.
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This work critically analyzes Colombia’s public policy on rural land restitution, framed by Law 1448 of 2011, through the lens of the Do No Harm approach. Starting from a contextual study of the armed conflict, forced displacement, and land dispossession, it examines how the implementation of this policy has led to new forms of revictimization and adverse effects on so-called “second occupants.” Drawing from a legal perspective and the author's direct experience as an official of the Land Restitution Unit, the study identifies that transitional justice in Colombia, while incorporating innovative mechanisms such as the reversal of the burden of proof and a transformative approach, faces significant structural, institutional, and social limitations. The research argues that without strict application of the Do No Harm principle and effective coordination among state actors, the restitution policy risks reproducing injustice and undermining the effective enjoyment of fundamental rights, both for direct victims and other rural inhabitants. The study ultimately proposes strengthening the Do No Harm framework as an essential element for avoiding collateral harm and advancing a truly transformative justice process in the Colombian context.

2025

Human rights advocacy can construct passive “victims,” objectify or displace rightsholders and affected communities, and contribute to their disempowerment. In response to critiques – made by rightsholders, activists, and scholars alike – about the values and effects of such disempowering advocacy models, many advocates are increasingly prioritizing an understanding of these dynamics and reforming practice to better center and support the agency of directly affected individuals and groups. However, the tactics and modalities of these efforts are under-examined in scholarly literature, and many human rights advocates lack access to adequate documentation of tactics and spaces for peer learning. In this article, we seek to contribute to improved practice and to deeper understanding of both the potential and limits of advocates’ responses to critiques of how they relate to rightsholders. We examine: first, how common advocacy practices risk rightsholder disempowerment, and second, the ...

2025

Legal aid is a manifestation of the state's responsibility in guaranteeing access to justice for the poor, as stipulated in Law Number 16 of 2011 concerning Legal Aid. Legal Aid Institutions (LBH), as the main actors, often face challenges in carrying out their duties, especially due to limited government funding. This paper aims to examine the implementation of legal aid services by LBH under financial constraints, the legal framework supporting them, and how these institutions strive to fulfill their obligations despite such limitations. The study adopts a normative juridical method using a statute and conceptual approach.

2025

This Research Paper is dedicated to my dear parents Mr. Paddy Kitiyo Kamuyeke and Mrs. Esther Chemutai Kitiyo. Thank you Dad and Mum for everything you have done for me. Your love, support and commitment to education have made me who I am today. To my lovely brothers: Isaac, David, Emmanuel and Moses, thank you dears. May God bless you all abundantly. The Research Paper writing process was a remarkable experience through which I have been equipped with knowledge and various skills. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to: God for blessing and guiding me throughout the study programme, and I am certain that he will be with me to the very end. The Royal Netherlands Embassy for granting me the fellowship which enabled me to study at the International Institute of Development Studies. My employer Uganda Human Rights Commission for granting me study leave and supporting me during my studies. My supervisor Doctor Helen Hintjens and second reader Professor Mohamed Salih who guided me from the research paper proposal development process to the conclusion of this paper. I appreciate the insights on various subjects, expertise, professional support and advice which enabled to write this research paper. My Convenor Dr. Jeff Handmaker and all lecturers in the HDS programme for the knowledge and support I gained from you during my study. Various stakeholders who gave me information, sacrificed time for interviews and discussions amidst their busy schedules during my field work study visit in Amuru. They include: the district land officer Amuru, Magistrate Grade One of Amuru, RDC Amuru, Chairperson of Amuru district land Board, police officers, parish chiefs in Amuru Sub-county, staffs of Norwegian Refugee Council, Uganda Land Alliance, Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative, Peace Commission, legal Aid Project and Uganda Human Rights Commission among others. And the parties to land disputes I spoke to in Amuru Sub-county. My discussants Moreblessing Mbire and Beatrice Stella Atingu for the critical feedback which was very helpful in the development of this paper. James A.S. Chelangat my fiancée for reminding me at all times that I would make it and encouraging me to study during difficult times. May God bless you. My family, grand dad, aunties and uncles for moral support and incredible words of encouragement during my studies. God Bless you all. HDS class 2010/2011, thank you all for the teamwork, academic and moral support you shared with me throughout this study programme. My friend's thank you all for the friendship, moral and academic support you gave me throughout the study programme and the paper writing process. God bless you all.

2025, Greener Journal of Social Sciences

Tonga tribe in Southern Province of Zambia. Empirical data was acquired from a cluster of three small village communities located in Ufwenuka Chiefdom of Monze District. Data was collected through household questionnaires, informant's interviews, and focus group discussions. Respondents included village elders, village headmen and heads of households. The research shows that customary land disputes are relatively low in the village communities and when they occur they are mostly about competing interest for arable land and natural resources. Important livelihood implications of the disputes include: growing landholding insecurity; reduced access to natural resources; disruption of agriculture land use; and social tension within households, clans and the community; and loss of trust in traditional leaders. The study concludes that traditional institutions are central in determining access, use and control of land and natural resources in rural livelihoods and land dispute settlement. Consequently, strengthening traditional land administration institutions operating in the customary lands of Zambia is critical for local livelihoods.

2025

Procedural standards of participation have the capacity to structure and constrain the exercise of authority. Focusing on the way decisions are formed, this paper argues that the depletion of such standards in processes of reception of trans-and international decisions within the EU potentially leads to situations of unrestrained authority and can constitute a challenge to the rule of law. The first part of the paper identifies the conditions under which this may occur. It sets out the basis for a conceptual and normative analysis underpinning the argument that procedural standards of participation can be considered part of the rule of law. As such, the depletion of procedural standards emerges as one facet of a broader problem -the ability of public law to structure discretion and constrain the exercise of authority that results from internationalised procedures. These intertwined decisionmaking procedures cutting across different levels of governance challenge law's ability to limit executive action and, hence, the rule of law premise that the exercise of public authority ought to be limited by law. In this way, and despite its EU focus, the paper contributes to analysing the challenges and possibilities of the rule of law in the current realities of diffusion of power resulting from internationalisation.

2024, Somaliland Lawyers Association (SOLLA) Profile

ntroduction
The Somaliland Lawyers Association (SOLLA) is a cornerstone institution dedicated to advancing justice, human rights, and the legal profession in Somaliland. Established in 2004, SOLLA has become a leading advocate for legal reforms, human rights, and professional development. Through strategic initiatives and partnerships, SOLLA strives to ensure an inclusive, transparent, and equitable legal system that serves the needs of all citizens. This document highlights SOLLA’s mission, key priorities, and its 2023-2027 strategic plan aimed at strengthening access to justice and empowering marginalized communities.

2024

Harvard University Press). However, the achievement of equality in rights is also instrumental to the achievement of economic development. Data show a positive correlation between equality in rights and gains for women in the social, economic and political realm. In turn, data show that women"s advancements in legal, social and economic status translate into gains for the society as whole as women"s enhanced voice affects household choices, which, in turn benefit children (in terms of education, health, food security, etc). 2 Although gender equality refers to both women and men, this paper focuses on women and how law and justice impacts on them differently from men.

2024, Revisi Korupsi penyalahgunaan dana desa

Penelitian ini membahas cara pengelolaan dana desa di Desa Kud Langkimat yang melibatkan kepala desa dalam kerjasama dengan perusahaan perkebunan sawit. Setiap kendaraan yang melewati jalan desa untuk mengangkut hasil panen diharuskan memberikan sumbangan, yang memunculkan isu terkait transparansi dan akuntabilitas penggunaan dana tersebut. Meskipun sumbangan yang terkumpul cukup besar, kualitas perbaikan jalan ternyata tidak sesuai harapan, hanya dilakukan dengan lapisan batu. Hal ini menimbulkan pertanyaan di kalangan masyarakat mengenai alokasi dana yang diterima. Penelitian ini juga mengidentifikasi sejumlah pelanggaran hukum, seperti pungutan liar, penyalahgunaan wewenang, dan kurangnya transparansi dalam penggunaan dana. Selain itu, kami membahas regulasi pemerintah mengenai transparansi dan akuntabilitas dalam pengelolaan dana desa, dengan penekanan pada pentingnya laporan berkala dan keterlibatan masyarakat dalam pengawasan. Penelitian ini menekankan bahwa partisipasi masyarakat sangat penting untuk memastikan pengelolaan dana desa yang efisien dan berkelanjutan, serta untuk membangun kepercayaan antara pemerintah desa dan warganya.

2024, Analisis Dana di Desa Kud Langkimat Sumatera Utara

2024

The majority of Africa"s population lives in rural areas and depends on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. 10 Land provides men, women and children alike with shelter, food and water while being the principal means of agricultural production. It is not simply a commodity but is intrinsically linked with the social and cultural lives of the different communities inhabiting it. Families and communities, therefore, seek to retain control over land within their kinship group, making inheritance the primary means by which land is transferred. 11 Inheritance patterns in most African communities are patrilineal, meaning that land is passed on from fathers to sons. 12 Daughters are expected to leave their natal home upon marriage and become part of their husband"s family through whom they will access land. Until then, they may access land through their fathers, brothers or other male relatives. More complicated, however, is the situation of widows and, in particular, of divorced women. Their access to land is, among other factors, highly dependent on their relations with their in-laws and the negotiation power they hold. Control over land, as the principal means of production, is an important source of economic and political power in rural areas. 13 Women"s lack of control over land, resulting from unequal inheritance rights, lies at the heart of power inequalities between men and women. 14 Women"s inferior socioeconomic position leads to their exclusion from decision-making processes and consequently serves to uphold male control and dominance. Socioeconomic and political inequality thus mutually reinforce each other and ensure female dependency and subordination. Women"s historic exclusion from law making, independent of the legal system one talks about, has been central to the maintenance of unequal gender relations. 15 It has led to the selective translation of social norms into legal provisions which, as a result, fail to reflect the perspectives of women. In addition, women are often excluded from participation in bodies 10

2024, Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management

The judicialization of healthcare and the right to health are the main topics of this article's analysis of the phenomena of medical practice and litigation in the Global South. It highlights the benefits and drawbacks of each strategy by contrasting the various tactics and results of medical safety litigation in Africa and Latin America. The significance of attaining universal health care and well-being for everyone in the Global South is also covered, as is the function of international cooperation and collaboration in this endeavor. The paper examines the prospects and problems posed among judicialization of healthcare in the context of social and economic equality and development using empirical data and interdisciplinary research.

2024, Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management

2024, Somaliland Peace and Development Journal

The land administration in urban areas in Somaliland remains weak following the war with the Somalia's military regime which ravaged the major cities and the subsequent breakup of the responsible institutions for land governorship in 1988-1991. Certainly, the relation between land-use and land ownership, and the redistribution of land ownership in urban areas has largely disappeared from the political debate over the past twenty plus years in Somaliland. This study has shown that the current land disputes between Somaliland landlords in urban areas illustrate the type of problems which arise due to the skyrocketing prices of land selling among citizens on one hand, and the capacity of the state institutions to officially sanction such practices by which is not present on the other. Overall, while the capacity of the state authorities to govern the land is not the same as the capacity to invest, it can streamline, plan land-use and/or control, procedure and making better use of publicly owned land. The central objective of this study is to assess, evaluate and examine the current situation and practices on land ownership, the possible implementation of the land reform policies at local, regional, and national levels with a particular emphasis on Hargeisa, the nation's capital, and its implications for the economies both local and national authorities and the society at the grassroots', while the need for Somaliland to continue reforming its urban land policies is necessarily important. The study relied both primary and secondary data, and were analyzed it qualitatively.

2024

an initiative of the 15 centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The initiative promotes comparative research on the role of property rights and collective action institutions in shaping the efficiency, sustainability, and equity of natural resource systems. CAPRi’s Secretariat is hosted within the Environment and Production Technology Division (EPTD) of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). CAPRi receives support from

2024, European Journal of Health Law

Across Europe, Roma suffer extreme marginalisation, negatively impacting their health. Many cannot access healthcare at all. For others, the health system is a hostile place. At the same time, good legal frameworks are in place to protect health rights, and there is increasing recognition of systemic violations experienced by Roma. Essential to building on this momentum and closing the gap between standards and implementation is Roma ability to conduct legal advocacy. Since 2010, the Open Society Foundations has supported Roma engagement in Macedonia, Romania and Serbia in the following advocacy strategies: i) legal empowerment, ii) documentation and advocacy, iii) media advocacy, and iv) strategic litigation. This article presents a framework developed to evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts and a baseline against which outcomes can be measured in a few years. The evaluation framework provides a qualitative assessment of Roma capacity, accountability for violations, changes in law and practice, and impact on communities. Findings reveal that that presently Roma lack knowledge of their rights and rarely challenge violations. Accountability in healthcare is practically non-existent. However, where legal advocacy has been used, violations decrease, and power dynamics shift. As healthcare becomes more responsive to communities, it also better serves non-Roma citizens.

2024, สถาบันพระปกเกล้า

งานวิจัยชิ้นนี้มีเป้าหมายเพื่อวิเคราะห์ความท้าทายของภาคประชาชนในการเข้าถึงกระบวนการนโยบายผ่านกรณีการริเริ่มเสนอกฎหมายชนเผ่าพื้นเมือง ตามบทบัญญัติรัฐธรรมนูญแห่งราชอาณาจักรไทย พ.ศ.2560 และพระราชบัญญัติการเข้าชื่อเสนอกฎหมาย พ.ศ.2564 และสังเคราะห์ตัวแบบการเสริมสร้างความเข้มแข็งของภาค
ประชาชนในนโยบายผ่านกรณีการริเริ่มเสนอกฎหมายชนเผ่าพื้นเมือง วิธีการศึกษาเป็นการศึกษาเชิงคุณภาพ ได้แก่ การสัมภาษณ์เชิงลึกในกลุ่มผู้ทรงคุณวุฒิและผู้ริเริ่มเสนอกฎหมาย 17 ท่าน การสนทนากลุ่มผู้เข้าชื่อเสนอกฎหมาย 5 ครั้ง (ภาคเหนือสูง รวม 32 ท่าน ภาคเหนือราบ รวม 20 ท่าน ภาคกลาง-ตะวันออก-ตะวันตก รวม 20 ท่าน ภาคตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ รวม 26 ท่าน ภาคใต้ รวม 25 ท่าน)
นอกจากนี้ ยังมีการเก็บข้อมูลด้วยการค้นคว้าเอกสาร การสังเกตการณ์จากการจัดสัมมนา กิจกรรมขับเคลื่อนการเข้าชื่อเสนอกฎหมาย หรือการเสวนาที่เกี่ยวข้อง และการสังเกตการณ์แบบมีส่วนร่วมในกระบวนการสนทนากลุ่ม ทั้งนี้ การสนทนากลุ่มและกิจกรรมที่เกี่ยวข้องด าเนินการโดยผู้ที่มีภาษาวัฒนธรรมหรือความคุ้นเคยกับกลุ่มชนเผ่า พื้นเมือง ข้อมูลทั้งหมดใช้วิธีวิเคราะห์เนื้อหา (Thematic content analysis) ผลการศึกษาพบว่า การมีกฎหมายคุ้มครองและส่งเสริมสิทธิของชนเผ่าพื้นเมืองเป็นสิ่งจำเป็น ทั้งเป็นไปตามความต้องการของประชาชน และสอดคล้องกับบทบัญญัติของรัฐธรรมนูญ รวมถึงหลักสิทธิมนุษยชนระหว่างประเทศ การขับเคลื่อนร่างกฎหมายจากภาคประชาชน แม้ประชาชนโดยเฉพาะผู้มีส่วนได้เสียจะเป็นปัจจัยที่สำคัญต่อการขับเคลื่อนกฎหมาย อย่างไรก็ตาม ภาครัฐก็มีบทบาทที่สำคัญทั้งในส่วนการส่งเสริมการมีส่วนร่วมของภาคประชาชนอย่างเป็นระบบ ทั้งตัวกฎหมายว่าด้วยการเข้าชื่อเสนอกฎหมาย กฎหมายส่งเสริมประชาธิปไตยทางตรงในรูปแบบต่าง ๆ ส่งเสริมสิทธิและเสรีภาพในการแสดงออกของประชาชนด้วยกลไกที่หลากหลายรูปแบบ รวมถึง กลไกอย่างไม่เป็นทางการซึ่งต้องใช้บทบาทของชุมชน สื่อ วงวิชาการ และองค์กรไม่แสวงหากำไรร่วมกัน ทั้งต้องการงบประมาณสนับสนุนจากภาครัฐด้วย นอกจากนี้ ยังพบความท้าทายที่สำคัญ คือข้อจำกัดของร่างกฎหมายที่เสนอจากภาคประชาชนที่เกี่ยวด้วยการเงินซึ่งต้องมีคำรับรองจากนายกรัฐมนตรี แม้ พ.ร.บ.การเข้าชื่อเสนอกฎหมาย พ.ศ.2564 ที่บังคับใช้ในปัจจุบันจะมีกลไกส่งเสริมการเข้าชื่อเสนอกฎหมายจากภาคประชาชนให้สะดวกขึ้น ทำให้ปัญหาที่ภาคประชาชนพบในส่วนการร่างกฎหมายและการรวบรวมรายชื่อน้อยลง แต่ความ
ท้าทายที่มากขึ้นคือ เมื่อร่างกฎหมายจากภาคประชาชนได้เข้าสู่กระบวนการนิติบัญญัติแล้ว จะมีกลไก หรือเทคนิคอย่างไรเพื่อส่งเสริมความร่วมมือระหว่างภาครัฐ (หน่วยงานรัฐ) ภาคการเมือง (รัฐบาล และรัฐสภา) และภาคประชาชน (ผู้มีส่วนได้เสีย ประชาชนทั่วไป สื่อ แวดวงวิชาการ) เพื่อขับเคลื่อนกฎหมายดังกล่าวให้สามารถ
บังคับใช้และตอบสนองความต้องการของประชาชนได้อย่างแท้จริง สำหรับข้อเสนอแนะการวิจัยในอนาคต ควรติดตามบทบาทภาคประชาชนในขั้นของการพิจารณาร่างกฎหมายต่อไป โดยศึกษาการบรรลุผลของความเคลื่อนไหวดังกล่าว และอาจมีการศึกษาเปรียบเทียบปัจจัยอุปสรรคและปัจจัยความสำเร็จกับร่างกฎหมายจากภาคประชาชนฉบับอื่น

2024, Social Science Research Network

The Justice and Development Working Paper Series serves as a platform for new and innovative thinking on justice and development, featuring work from World Bank staff and external authors. It is a knowledge product of the World Bank's Justice Reform Practice Group, which generates knowledge and provides advice and assistance to Bank staff and Bank client countries on building and improving state and non-state justice system institutions and mechanisms. Justice and Development disseminates the findings of works in progress to facilitate a more rapid exchange of ideas about development issues and justice reform. Editorial Policy Justice and Development seeks original research papers on law, justice and development. We welcome publications from both Bank colleagues and external contributors. Manuscripts must be in English, and no longer than 25-30 pages. They can be submitted to the Editorial Office at any time of the year. All submitted papers will be carefully reviewed by the Editorial Board. Criteria for selection include rigorous scholarship and innovative approaches related to law/justice and development. If you are interested in submitting a paper, please contact the Editorial Office for detailed information and editorial guidelines.

2024, Musamus Journal of Economics Development

Bentuk sosialisasi kepada para aparat kampung terkait penyusunan Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Kampung (RPJMK). Tujuan yang dicapai dalam kegiatan pengabdian ini adalah untuk memberikan wawasan atau pengetahuan mengenai pentingnya Informasi dari awal proses penyusunan Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Kampung (RPJMK) dan pengelolaannya; memberikan pengetahuan mengenai cara penyusunan dan penyusunan Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Kampung (RPJMK); dan memberikan bekal kemampuan untuk penyusunan Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Kampung (RPJMK). Metode yang digunakan pengabdian ini adalah ceramah, dan tanya jawab. Materi yang diberikan saat Sosialisasi adalah Materi penyusunan Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Kampung (RPJMK). Hasil diskusi bersama aparatur kampung Hidup Baru, Setelah mengikuti sosialisasi penyusunan Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Kampung, aparatur kampung dan masyarakat mulai memahami bahwa pentingnya tatacara penyusunan Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Kampung dan pentingnya masyarakat dalam keterlibatan untuk menyusun Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Kampung, sehingga program yang ada di dalamnya masyarakat sudah memahaminya. Secara keseluruhan disimpulkan bahwa kegiatan ini berjalan sesuai dengan perencanaan dan harapan yang baik.

2024, Actas de las Primeras Jornadas Nacionales de Clínicas Jurídicas

2024, Community Paralegals and the Pursuit of Justice

Paralegals in Comparative Perspective What Have We Learned across These Six Countries? Vivek Maru and Varun Gauri i. INTRODUCTION In Mbiuni, a town in a dry region of eastern Kenya, sand miners from Nairobi nearly destroyed the only local sources of drinking water. Sand retains water-removing it in vast quantities causes the water table to drop. A prominent woman from Mbiuni, Mary M., said simply: "The water catchment was on the verge of drying up. .. Water is very precious here. Without it we will all be dead." Mary and several other community members approached the police, the district officer, and the local chief to complain. Every one of those officials claimed he lacked the authority to act against the miners. Desperate, some people set fire to a truck that came to pick up sand. Police arrested and imprisoned two of the demonstrators. The mining continued. Where were the people of Mbiuni supposed to go? Kenya adopted national guidelines on sand harvesting in 2007. According to the guidelines, no one can mine sand outside of sites approved by district-level sand-harvesting committees. The committees are supposed to designate sites only after considering social and environmental risks. 1 The mine in Mbiuni was not in an approved site. Mary and others in Mbiuni hadn't seen the guidelines and didn't know approval was required. The district officer didn't mention the guidelines when they approached him. Mary suspected that he and other officials were receiving a cut of the revenue from the mine. The situation of the Mbiuni residents is not uncommon. For perhaps a majority of human beings-4 billion people as estimated by the UN Commission on Legal Empowerment-the promises of law and government are often unmet. 2 Many people have never heard of laws that are supposed to protect them. Others cannot avail themselves of nominally good rules and systems because of cost, dysfunction, 1

2024, Perspectives on Politics

While many find cause for optimism about the use of law and rights for progressive ends, the academic literature has long been skeptical that courts favor the poor. We show that, with the move toward a robust “new constitutionalism” of social and economic rights, the assumptions underlying the skepticism do not always hold. Our theories must account for variation in the elite bias of law and litigation. In particular, we need to pay closer attention to the broad, collective effects of legal mobilization, rather than focusing narrowly on the litigants and the direct benefits they receive. We support the claim by showing that litigation pursued in legal contexts that create the expectation of collective effects is more likely to avoid the potential anti-poor bias of courts. On the other hand, policy areas dominated by individual litigation and individualized effects are more likely to experience regressive outcomes. Using data on social and economic rights cases in four countries, we ...

2024, Policy Research Working Papers

The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.

2024, Ministry of Women's Affair of Afghanistan

This report has been uploaded this report for public dissemination.

2024, www.somalilandlaw.com

This study determined women’s political participation and decision making in Hargeisa Somaliland. The study was guided by the following objectives; the first was to assess women’s political participation and decision making in Hargeisa,... more

2024, Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

2024, Social Science Research Network

What are the barriers to the effectiveness of women leaders? If leaders' actions deviate from their proposals ("deception"), then trust in leaders might decrease, leading to poorer governance and welfare outcomes. Using experiments conducted in rural India, this paper examines if women leaders deceive more than men, and the role of the social environment in explaining deception by female leaders. We find that women assigned to be leaders deceive more than men, and that deception is more frequent when the gender of the leader is publicly revealed, indicating the salience of social expectations rather than ingrained differences between women and men. Further, we test whether this result holds in a setting with affirmative action, which exogenously changes the social environment. We find that women are more deceptive in villages which have had a female village head due to the affirmative action policy. Greater deception is explained by female leaders correctly anticipating different economic and social costs for their actions as compared to male leaders. Our findings suggest that the social environment imposes significant barriers to the effectiveness of female leaders.

2023, Biodiversity Science

The Nagoya Protocol (NP) entered into force on 12 October 2014 and was fully implemented thereafter. The effective implementation of the NP at the national level requires strong support through national legislation. In this regard, the Chinese government is drafting regulations on the administration of access to biological genetic resources, which are included in the State Council legislative plan for 2015. To provide recommendations, this study presents a discussion on several aspects that should be concerned and focused on the development of national legislation on access and benefit-sharing (ABS), for instance, the legal status, terms and definitions, access and approval process, follow-up supervision, and monitoring. We further propose views to provide references for establishing national ABS regulation and to ensure effective implementation. These include: (1) National ABS regulation should be combined with current legislation to synergically supervise biological genetic resources and traditional knowledge related to genetic resources, thus to identify the ownership of biological genetic resources and related traditional knowledge, and to distinguish commercial and non-commercial acquisition; (2) Developing items and definitions to clarify concepts and promote the operation of certain legal provisions; (3) Clearing ABS authorities, resources management authorities and the required materials lists for acquisition, as well as forms and content of the acquisition application. In addition, supervising and approving acquisition activities should be completed using categories, thus to encourage scientific research and regulate commercial developments, especially for outbound acquisition activities. In particular, it is necessary to consider specific administration and management

2023, Poverty & Public Policy

Indigenous people in Mexico are more likely to be disadvantaged and live in poverty than nonindigenous people. To better understand the forms in which indigenous people in Mexico experience poverty, this article reports, from an ethnic perspective, on the findings of multidimensional poverty estimates. The premise guiding this exercise is that the primary purpose of poverty measurement is to provide a continuous assessment of how to better target poverty. The analysis utilizes Alkire and Foster's (AF) specific multidimensional measurement framework. It also employs the Mexican Official Poverty Measure (MPM). Both methods are applied to 2014 data provided by the Mexican National Household Expenditure Revenue Survey (ENIGH) to explore the extent to which the privation of social rights influences the living conditions of Mexico's indigenous poor to better target poverty alleviation efforts. Results showing higher levels of deprivation in the social rights domain for indigenous people than for non-indigenous people reveal the need for the Mexican government to articulate social policies that are specifically designed to tackle the social rights deprivations that the indigenous poor endure.

2023

Observing the failure of movements of legal development have been passed in the last two decades, this writing proposes "new" paradigm of legal development. It is the Rule of Law Pro-Justice for People. Its attributes are firstly, the program is integrated with development program in multi-sector, and closely connected to the effort of poverty eradication. Secondly, it is designed bottom up, and formulated by the partnership among respective parties who are knowlegable in law issues with socio-legal perspective: epistemic community, government officials, and the CEO represent civil socities. Thirdly, the program is purposely addressed to the disadvantaged groups, and supported by public participation. This writing also submit a new "genre" for study of law, that is socio-legal studies. This approach can be identified from its characteristic. It challenges textual study in which the legal documents are critically analyzed to obtain meaning and understanding on how the subject of law (the poor, women) is projected by law. Subsequently, this approach doesn't stop in studying text, it goes further to study how does law operate in daily life. It develops "new" approaches merged from legal research method as well as method of social sciences, like ethnography of law, socio-legal ethnography, qualitative socio-legal, and qualitative feminist.

2023

International Development Law Organization (IDLO) IDLO is an intergovernmental organization that promotes legal, regulatory and institutional reform to advance economic and social development in transitional and developing countries. Founded in 1983 and one of the leaders in rule of law assistance, IDLO's comprehensive approach achieves enduring results by mobilizing stakeholders at all levels of society to drive institutional change. Because IDLO wields no political agenda and has deep expertise in different legal systems and emerging global issues, people and interest groups of diverse backgrounds trust IDLO. It has direct access to government leaders, institutions and multilateral organizations in developing countries, including lawyers, jurists, policymakers, advocates, academics and civil society representatives. IDLO conducts timely, focused and comprehensive research in areas related to sustainable development in the legal, regulatory, and justice sectors. Through such research, IDLO seeks to contribute to existing Practice and scholarship on priority legal issues, and to serve as a conduit for the global exchange of ideas, best practices and lessons learned. IDLO produces a variety of professional legal tools covering interdisciplinary thematic and regional issues; these include book series, country studies, research reports, policy papers, training handbooks, glossaries and benchbooks. Research for these publications is conducted independently with the support of its country offices and in cooperation with international and national partner organizations. Disclaimer IDLO is an intergovernmental organization and its publications are intended to expand legal knowledge, disseminate diverse viewpoints and spark discussion on issues related to law and development. The views expressed in this publication are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of IDLO or its Member States. IDLO does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of its use. IDLO welcomes any feedback or comments regarding the information contained in the publication.

2023

IDLO is an intergovernmental organization and its publications are intended to expand legal knowledge, disseminate diverse viewpoints and spark discussion on issues related to law and development. The views expressed in this publication are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of IDLO or its Member States. IDLO does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of its use. IDLO welcomes any feedback or comments regarding the information contained in the publication.

2023

• Rule of law and justice reform is integral to sustainable development, yet is complex and bound in social norms and political power. • International support to this agenda is moving away from top-down, state-centric approaches, to be more bottom-up and end-user focused. • There is also a growing interest in politically smart and adaptive approaches. However, what makes for 'effective experimentalism' is under-documented, under-explored and under-systematised.

2023, Canadian journal of law and society

Discussions of the relationship between law and political activism have tended to rely on a rigid and unrealistic distinction between legislative and judicial institutional structures. This has led to a failure to consider the structure of professional organizations and the impediments to political activism around legal issues created by the nature of legal expertise. It is argued that the creation of democratic organizational forms, such as those adopted by some community-based legal clinics, holds possibilities for the successful integration of law into the broader political strategies of social groups.

2023, PARADOKS : Jurnal Ilmu Ekonomi

Tujuan dari penelitian ini mencoba untuk mengkaji lebih jauh masalah tersebut dengan Peran Dinas Pemberdayaan Masyarakat dan Desa Kabupaten Mamuju dalam Mengawal Program Dana Desa di Kabupaten Mamuju. Penelitian ini, dilaksanakan pada Kantor Dinas Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Desa Kabupaten Mamuju. Adapun alasan memilih lokasi penelitian ini adalah ingin mengetahui peran Dinas Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Desa Kabupaten dalam mengawal Program Dana Desa di Kabupaten Mamuju. Peran adalah tingkalaku dari seseorang yang memiliki kedudukan dan melakukan suatu kegiatan yang memberikan dampak kepada orang lain atau kelompok. Dana Desa adalah dana yang bersumber dari Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Negara yang diperuntukkan bagi Desa yang di transfer melalui Anggran Pendapatan dan Belanja Daerah Kabupaten Mamuju dan digunakan untuk membiayai penyelenggaraan pemerintahan, pelaksanaan pembangunan, pembinaan kemasyarakatan, dan pemberdayaan masyarakat. Teknik yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah t...

2023, Global Environmental Change

Movements are increasingly taking companies to court for environmental and social harms. Yet little is known about the consequences this strategy has for movements and their struggles. Through a crosscountry comparison of three environmental litigation cases in Argentina, Nicaragua, and Spain, we find that local groups encounter three interrelated consequences: i) 'slow justice', a strategy generally driven by companies to delay proceedings and demobilize movements; ii) courts reduce complex impacts to simplified, scientifically verifiable and legally punishable damages, thus invisibilizing certain harms, victims, narratives and demands; and iii) local groups lose control of the resistance process as judges and lawyers become key decision-makers. These dynamics interact with the specific features of environmental conflicts-uncertainty, slow violence and marginalized affected parties-to deepen power inequalities in litigation processes. Our findings are contextualized within the literatures on legal mobilization and the judicialization of politics. We conclude that social movements, when looking for a fair and just solution through the judicial system, encounter different but highly hierarchical power structures. And even if they win in the courts, companies can avoid complying with the judicial orders.

2023, Social Science Research Network

In May 2017, the Ogiek indigenous community of Kenya successfully challenged the denial of their land and associated rights before the African Court of Human and Peoples Rights ('the Court'). In the first indigenous peoples' rights case considered the Court, and by far the largest ever case it has had to consider, the Court found violations of Articles 1, 2, 8, 14, 17 (2) and (3), 21 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights ('the African Charter'). It therefore created a major legal precedent. In addition, the litigation itself and Ogiek's participation in the various stages of the legal process provided a model for community engagement, through which the Ogiek were empowered to better understand and advocate for their rights. This article will first explain the history of the case and the Court's findings, and then move on to examine in further detail methods employed to build the Ogiek's capacity throughout, and even beyond, the litigation. * Legal Director, Minority Rights Group International. 1. Specifically, Arts. 2, 8, 14, 17(2) and (3), 21 and 22 of the Charter, together with a violation of Art. 1 as a result of the Government of Kenya failing to take legislative or other measures to protect these rights. 2. ACHPR v. Kenya, App. no. 006/2012, judgment of African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights, issued 26 May 2017 (the 'Ogiek judgment'), available at: <http:// en. african-court. org/ images/ Cases/ Judgment/ Application%20006-2012%20-%20African%20Commission %20on%20Human%20and%20Peoples%E2%80%99%20Rights %20v. %20the%20Republic%20of%20Kenya.. pdf>. Ogiek's capacity throughout, and even beyond, the litigation.

2023

2023, Journal of Refugee Studies

Although the concept of legal empowerment has gained significant traction in development studies recently as a means of addressing social inequality, exclusion and human rights violations, little scholarship exists on its potential in the context of protracted refugee situations (PRS). This article seeks to further the discussion on the role of law and justice in PRS by proposing that legal empowerment-based approaches offer an alternative to traditional aid initiatives which respects the dignity and agency of recipients. It is argued here that enabling refugees to use the law and legal mechanisms to protect and advance their rights and acquire greater control over their lives could have important implications. In particular, legal empowerment has the potential to improve the administration of justice within refugee camps, to increase the accountability of host state authorities and aid providers, and to contribute to the achievement of durable solutions either by providing the skills and knowledge to facilitate resettlement or local integration or by empowering refugees to be actors in resettlement and transitional justice initiatives.