CURRENT PROJECTS
1- Freedom of Expression and the Judiciary System in Guinea
This project consists of training judges on the implementation of international treaties and other regional
treaties related to freedom of expression ratified by Guinea. Scholars/experts from IRDED will conduct the training
during which time judges will familiarize themselves with cases interpreting Article 9 of the African Charter on
Human and Peoples' Rights, the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa, Article 10 of the
European Convention of Human Rights, Article 13 of the Inter-American Convention of Human Rights, Article 19 of
the United Nations Convention on Civil and Political Rights, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
a) To provide the members of the judiciary system legal training in order to implement international treaties
and consider international jurisprudence that protect freedom of expression and, therefore, enhance the democratic
process and rule of law;
b) To provide a compilation of international jurisprudence in French that address legal issues related to freedom
of expression;
c) To make the members of the judiciary system aware of their key role in the legal protection of journalists,
particularly during the electoral process;
d) To encourage members of the judiciary system to allow journalists access to judicial proceedings.
2- Legal Aid Program
Recent research shows that projects using participatory and demand-based methods such as community driven development
have demonstrated considerable success in getting resources to their intended beneficiaries and in achieving rapid
growth impacts when the poor and marginalized communities are legally empowered to protect their rights. In order
to do so, community-based organizations such as women should be linked to NGOs in order to help them to support
improved empowerment and service provision. A specially framed approach, which links such local organizations through
their respective roles and relationships at community levels, promises to improve coordination, synergy, efficiency,
and responsiveness in local development processes.
This project would support efforts to empower women and launch a gender-responsive legal aid program, building
upon an assessment of gender issues in Guinea, including gender disparities in rights and in economic development.
The project will help establishing legal literacy initiatives to inform women of their rights and increase protection
of women from sexual predation and reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS.
In summary, the program objective is to help establish a legal aid program for women that will empower marginalized
women by giving them choices, and transforming those choices into desired actions and outcomes for the benefits
of the their communities, and therefore redressing the inequities in voices, choices, access to justice and limit
the spread of HIV.