AVOCATS SANS FRONTIERS 

Organizational Information.  

Avocats Sans Frontieres is an international NGO of lawyers and jurists founded in 1992, whose mandate consists of working to achieve the following goals at both the national and international level:

• The establishment of efficient and effective legal aid mechanisms for the most vulnerable groups within society and the creation of legal systems that can provide those groups with real protection and assistance;
• Genuine respect for all fundamental human rights and, especially, the right to an adequate defense and a fair trial;
• A thorough public and private accountability and responsibility in the justice sector, as well as in the economic and social sphere; and
• The reduction of global poverty and the achievement of a durable justice through international redistribution. ASF -B pursues its mandate through practical fieldwork in the areas of law and justice.  

The Secretariat of ASF is based in Brussels, Belgium, with field missions in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, East Timor, and field activities in the Middle East/Palestine.

Avocats Sans Frontieres: East Timor Mission   

ASF has maintained a resident field mission in East Timor since July, 2002. The overall objective of the mission is to support the efforts of the government of East Timor, NGOs and civil society, to build the foundations of this post-conflict country, and to help ensure a long-term peace through a just and equitable development process.  In particular, ASF attempts to contribute to the implementation of the Rule of Law and the creation of a judicial system that operates according to international standards, but that is also respectful of the culture and traditions of East Timor.

Since its establishment in East Timor, ASF has implemented and/or completed the following activities:

• Creation and development of an East Timor Bar Association;
• Implementation of a private lawyer training and mentorship program;
• Implementation of a grassroots, civil society legal education and awareness program in the rural districts;
• Research and analysis for a Legal Aid Survey Report;
• Training program on domestic violence for community leaders (Chefe de Sucos);
• Training and capacity-building program for public defenders;
• A feasibility study on an Academy of Law in East Timor;
• A study on the relationship between traditional law and the newly created formal justice system;
• Establishment of a legal documentation center at the Judicial Training Center; and
• Provision of technical assistance and advice to the government on the drafting of proposed legislation and laws.

Through these activities, ASF has developed privileged relationships with civil society, national and international NGOs, the government and other international actors working in the justice sector of East Timor. ASF has maintained a visible and positive public profile in East Timor, largely due to the organization's highly participatory and consultative approach to program implementation and working methodology.  All projects and activities are developed in consultation and coordination with other justice sector actors working in East Timor to avoid overlap and ensure a complementary approach to meeting the needs of the country.

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