The Organizational Landscape of Suma Justeco;

A fledgling NGO dedicated to serving justice for

transnational abuses of human rights and the environment
Prepared By:
Jonathan S. Leonard
With Guidance From:
Terra Lawson Remer
In May of 2014
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Comparable Organizations
Accountability Counsel (AC) .........
The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) .. 7
Sources of Innovative Funding
NGO Support Networks
6
Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) .
Earthjustice ....
EarthRights International (ERI) ......
Ashoka ...
Causes ....
Kiva ....
The Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights Network (ESCR-Net)..
Namati ...
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8
10
13
12
14
16
17
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Pro Bono Clearinghouses
Advocates for International Development (A4ID)....
The Public Interest Law Network (PILnet)......
i-Probono....
20
19
21
Legal Support Organizations
International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP)....
Lawyers Without Borders (LWOB)...........
23
24
Law Clinics and Research Institutes
Columbia Law Human Rights Institute (HRI).......
Harvard International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC)....
Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment.
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26
28
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BACKGROUND
Suma Justeco
Suma Justeco means Global Justice in Esperanto. For decades the creation and
adoption of global justice mechanisms have lagged behind the rapacious expansion of
global resource markets. This lopsided development track has left rural regions of
the global south at the mercy of Multinational Corporations (MNCs) who stand
unchecked by regulation or law. Suma Justeco seeks to pioneer an alternative
systems-change approach: integrating diverse legal and policy strategies to defend
marginalized communities suffering from environmental devastation imposed by
irresponsible extractive industries projects, advocate for peoples displaced by massive
land grabs perpetrated by corrupt governments in collusion with powerful corporate
interests, promote inclusive economic growth policies that generate widely shared
benefits instead of inequality and social exclusion, and oppose catastrophic climate
injustices that are destroying the planet and decimating livelihoods worldwide.

This document seeks to establish the organizational landscape or ecomap into
which Suma Justeco is entering and to provide guidance for those seeking to enter or
understand the field of non-profit environmental law. The following organizations
have been selected and analyzed based on their potential for: partnership, funding,
legal support, networking, and research.
Transnational:
Extending across national boundaries. Suma Justeco focuses on environmental and
social abuses that involve crossing national borders.
Multi National Corporation (MNC):
A corporation that has dramatically exceeded the physical bounds of its home state.
MNCs (especially in the extractive industry sector) are the most common targets of
Suma Justeco.
International Finance Institution (IFI):
Large development banks such as The World Bank, or International Monetary Fund
(IMF). They often finance massive transnational development projects some
leading to environmental and human rights abuses.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA):
An official report detailing the environmental impact of a given development project.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI):
Control or ownership of business enterprise in one country by a company or investor
from a different country.
Glossary of Terms
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A list of
COMPARABLE
ORGANIZATIONS
Complementing and Adding Value to Existing Organizations
Transnational social and environmental justice is a budding field;
nevertheless, several small trailblazing organizations with
comparable missions exist. Suma Justecos efforts would
compliment these organizations overarching mission goals as well
as their daily activities. The following organizations are
highlighted for both their similarities to Suma Justeco, as well as
how they might assist one another.
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assists communities around the world to
defend their environmental and human rights
Year of Registration
2009
Primary Office
San Francisco, California, USA
Region of Focus
Anywhere IFI projects exist
Net Assets - 2011
$105,697
Human Resource Capacity
(4) Full time staff
(2) Law fellows
(2) Interns
Accountability Counsels (AC) primary focus is providing lawyers for
people harmed by internationally-financed projects. It specializes in
pursuing complaint mechanisms for projects funded by
International Finance Institutions (IFIs).
The AC utilizes complaint mechanisms and provides guidance to
people affected by the following IFIs:
African Development Bank (AfDB)
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Equator Principles (EPs)
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)
OECD National Contact Point of the US (US NCP)
UNDP Accountability Mechanisms
UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights
The World Bank
The AC utilizes the pro-bono services of law firms and law school clinics when pursuing these accountability
mechanisms. The AC also takes a particular interest in womens issues and employs a Strategic Support
campaign which seeks to enhance strong local voices for the purpose of lodging complaints on behalf of their
own communities.
Bank Facing Mechanisms: the AC features a bank advocacy campaign through which it engages in dialogue with
IFIs in order to strengthen accountability practices and the revision of policies.
Potential interactions with Suma Justeco: When the AC discovers a case which is inadequately addressed by IFI
complaint mechanisms or falls outside of ACs operational realm, it can refer the case to another organization
with a different toolkit. ACs afflicted communities could be supported by using Suma Justecos other
accountability mechanisms such as anticorruption laws or social performance requirements .
- www.accountabilitycounsel.org
6
Works to strengthen and use international law
and institutions to protect the environment,
promote human health, and ensure a just and
sustainable society
Year of Registration
1989
Primary Office
Washington DC, USA
Satellite Offices
Geneva, Switzerland
Region of Focus
USA
(Sub)Arctic zones
South America
Net Assets - 2013
$987,456
Human Resource Capacity
(18) Staff
(3) Pro bono servicers
(24) Interns & law fellows
With its staff of international attorneys, CIEL utilizes advocacy and
support strategies in order to strengthen international laws and
institutions with the aim of improving environmental protections,
human health, justice, and societal sustainability. The relevant
issues covered by CIEL include human rights, the environment,
International Finance Institutions (IFIs), and community law.
Early Opportunity Lawyer-in-Training Program: CIEL conducts a
joint research and teaching program with The American Universitys
Washington College of Law. The LIT program offers internships
and fellowships with a focus on international and comparative
environmental law. Suma Justeco will likewise provide up-and-
coming legal training, but to fresh law school graduates rather than
to interns or fellows.
Advocacy Mechanisms: Active advocacy and dialogue with IFIs in
regards to strengthening their accountability practices and revising
specific policies. It also engages in dialogue with national
governments regarding environmental laws and participates on
panels and commissions with environmental goals.
Potential interactions with Suma Justeco: CIEL is selective and
limited in the client communities it represents. It could, therefore,
refer cases to Suma Justeco which seem like good pilots for new
transnational litigative mechanisms.
- http://www.ciel.org/CIEL_Our_Work.html
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A global alliance of attorneys, scientists and other
advocates collaborating across borders to promote
grassroots efforts to build a sustainable, just future
Year of Registration
1989
Primary Office
Eugene, Oregon, USA
Region of Focus
Worldwide
Net Assets - 2011
$1,440,474
Human Resource Capacity
(14) Full time staff
(7) Fellows
Primary focus: challenging environmental abuses and seeking to
build a worldwide group of skilled and committed advocates who
can protect ecosystems and communities in the future. ELAW
supports strong local lawyers from low-income areas who are
committed to protecting the environment in their home countries -
building local capacity to protect the global environment.
Scientific Analysis Tools: E-Law has staff scientists qualified to
check the validity of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and
provide scientific testimonies. It also hosts community workshops
to teach affected community members skills such as collecting and
analyzing contamination samples, which foster a better
understanding of the toxic effects caused by extractive industry
projects in their communities.
EIA Law Matrix: A growing database of Environmental Impact
Assessments (EIAs) from around the world. This database provides
valuable information for assessing transnational grievances, and
provides a tool for comparing legal standards and procedures
across various regions.
Potential interactions with Suma Justeco: One of ELAWs six major initiatives is Strengthening Organizations:
ELAW helps advocates launch and strengthen organizations dedicated to pursuing justice and protecting the
environment. Suma Justeco fits this description and could correspond with ELAWs local legal representatives
within this context. These representatives can assist Suma Justeco in launching transnational litigations, or
participating in whichever accountability mechanism is deemed appropriate. For example: if an E-LAW
supported lawyer discovers a bribe from a US registered company to a local government official in relation to a
land-grab or extractive industry project, Suma Justeco could use local attorney assistance to file a case under the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
- www.elaw.org/about
8
Uses the power of law and the strength of
partnership to protect peoples health; to preserve
magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean
energy; and to combat climate change
Year of Registration
1999 - Earthjustice
(1971)- Sierra Club Legal
Defense Fund
Primary Office
San Francisco, California, USA
Satellite Offices
30 offices spread around the
various states of the USA
Region of Focus
USA
Canada (in relation to US)
Mexico (in relation to US)
Net Assets - 2013
$50,701,080
Human Resource Capacity
(93) Attorneys
(201) Staff
Primary Focus: Earthjustice conducts US based litigations for cases
brought to them by the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC)
and affected community members. It primarily uses US based laws
such as The Clean Air Act, The Clean Water Act, The National Forest
Management Act, and The Natural Environmental Policy Act to
achieve its goals.
Earthjustice is a US-centric organization but they also do extensive
bilateral work with neighboring countries like Canada (Tarsands) and
Mexico (Gulf of Mexico Contamination). However, they have also
begun to join the global discourse in cases of extreme environmental
abuse in Central and South America (such as the la Oroya case in
Peru).
Main Tool: Litigative representation for groups who bring cases
against US government agencies - some of which are inherently
transnational, such as the US Export-Import bank. The US ExIm
bank provides funding to international extractive industry projects
that serve US companies or interests.
Individual, Community, and Organizational Representation:
Earthjustice has legally represented a diverse body of clients ranging
from affected individuals to groups of NGOs and everything
inbetween.
Potential interactions with Suma Justeco: The USA has one of the strongest legal frameworks for environmental
protection in the world. If Suma Justeco brings any sort of transnational litigations to US courts, Earthjustice
could be instrumental in assisting SJ lawyers to navigate the legal intricacies of US environmental law and get
accountability from American listed MNCs operating abroad. Suma Justeco could, in return, provide guidance in
the realm of transnational litigation for Earthjustices western hemisphere trans-border development cases.
- http://earthjustice.org/about
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The power of law and the power of people in
defense of human rights and the environment
Year of Registration
1995
Primary Office
Washington DC, USA
Satellite Offices
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Lima, Peru
Region of Focus
Latin America
Southeast Asia
Worldwide (Amicus Curiae)
Net Assets - 2013
$6,338,930
Human Resource Capacity
(51) Staff
(14) Co-counsel
Primary Focus: ERI is one of the only organizations filing
transnational litigations against socially/environmentally abusive
corporations in their home states. It generally does this using the
Alien Tort Statute (ATS) and amicus curiae briefs.
In addition to its litigation efforts, Earthrights documents human
and environmental rights abuses and organizes local community
activists. Their litigation cases are usually brought to US courts, and
are levied against governments and MNCs who are allegedly
conducting social or environmental abuse.
Direct Community Representation Component: ERI has a client-
centric approach and directly represents plaintiff communities in a
US court of law. Suma Justeco will likewise use the home courts of
capital-exporting countries to pursue socially and environmentally
based litigations as one of the tools in its repertoire.
Pro-Bono Legal Component: ERI has support from The
Cooperating Attorney Core who donate their time to ERI's various
legal activities including: conducting legal research, drafting amicus
briefs, working on human rights and environment class action suits,
and other lawsuits. Suma Justeco plans to use a similar pro-bono
legal support component.
Potential interactions with Suma Justeco: The backbone of ERIs transnational litigation effort is the Alien Tort
Statute. Unfortunately the ATS has been rather unsuccessful in winning accountability due to a presumption
against extraterritoriality among other reasons. Suma Justeco seeks to reinforce transnational litigation by
pioneering tactics based outside the ATS, such as conversion claims and SEC filings. Once these new tools are
effectively pioneered by Suma Justeco for use in transnational social/environmental abuse cases, they will be
available for ERI to use as well.
- www.accountabilitycounsel.org
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Sources of
INNOVATIVE
FUNDING
New Methods; New Funding Models
Traditional funding models such as grants and private
donations are useful for seed funding but become
burdensome as organizations grow. Suma Justeco seeks
to transition away from traditional competitive funding,
and towards a more innovative and participatory crowd
funded model.
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Innovators for the Public
Method of Funding
General funding pool is made
Pool is distributed to fellows
Eligibility
Being a social innovator
Passing Ashokas review
Noteworthy Mechanisms
Networking opportunities
Living stipend
Ashoka provides start-up financing and professional support to
their projects from start to finish. Hopeful social entrepreneurs go
through a rigorous review process and, if deemed promising (by
Ashoka), are taken on as fellows. Ashoka is unique in that it offers
more than just money; it works to keep its social entrepreneurs well
connected and supplied with everything they need to succeed.
As an emerging entity, SJ is in need of assistance and networking. It
also seeks to utilize networks (such as the Ashoka Hub) where a
diverse group of individuals, companies, and organizations can
congregate over a specific case or issue. These hubs render
valuable connections and are useful for coordinating the many
tools and organizations involved in a transnational accountability
effort.
Ashoka raises funds, primarily online, and distributes them to social
innovators as living stipends for up to 3 years - allowing them to
work on their social innovation full-time.
- www.ashoka.org
12
The place to discover, support
and organize campaigns
Method of Funding
User made campaign pages
Online donations
Eligibility
Partnership with a 501(c)3
A specific campaign
Noteworthy Mechanisms
Low cost
Highly specific funding
Causes serves as a platform for both donors and campaigners to
network, build campaigns, and raise/give money for issues they
care about.
All of the content (campaign information) is user created. A user
acts on behalf of a non-profit to raise money, either for that
organization in general or for one of their specific activities. This
allows campaigns to be run by people who are not actually
employed by the organization, and need not even be official
volunteers. Anyone can run a campaign for a registered non-profit.
Suma Justeco could benefit greatly from such an arrangement, as it
is not in a position to hire/train campaigners. It could even act as a
campaigner for a partner in a transnational development case as a
way of gaining traction before it receives a 501(c)3 status.
- www.causes.com
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Loans that Change Lives
Method of Funding
Loans are given via web-lender
Disbursed by field partners
Refunded into Kiva account
Eligibility
Persons from the global south
without access to finance
Noteworthy Mechanisms
Partnership with microfinance
institutions and small businesses
Specific projects - Lender Choice
Kiva is a crowd-sourced interest-free microfinance platform which
connects private lenders to business owners so that they can create
or scale existing enterprises in the global south.
Tools: It uses field partner organizations such as microfinance
institutions, socially responsible businesses, and nonprofits to
facilitate the loan and help borrowers display their project on Kivas
website. Interest paid on the loan is used to pay for the partner
organizations services - Kiva does not take a cut.
Relation to Suma Justeco: SJ will use a platform similar to the one
used by Kiva, but based on donation to a particular case rather than
the microfinancing of a small business or individual. Donors will
likewise be provided intimate details of Suma Justecos cases, and
can choose which project to support. Like Kiva, cases will be
categorized by region & issue, and donors will be kept up to date on
news and progress.
- www.kiva.org
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A global movement working together to
advance social justice through human rights
Issue of Focus
Human rights:
Economic, social, & cultural
Network Structure
Flexible
Supportive
Decentralized
Relevant Specialties
Thematic working groups:
Corporate accountability
Adjudication
ESCR-Net uses its international network to facilitate joint actions,
enhance communications and build solidarity across regions. It
works to strengthen the field of human rights, specifically
economic, social and cultural rights, by developing tools for their
promotion, protection and fulfillment. The network structure is
flexible, supportive, and decentralised in nature.
at the urging of its members, ESCR has compiled a robust set of
tools and resources for human rights monitoring and advocacy.
These toolkits are made widely available to the members of the
network. ESCR-Net also organizes thematic working groups which
build capacity for organizations, activists and other actors such as
women, marginalized groups, social movements, and social justice
groups.
The Corporate Accountability Working Group (CAWG) seeks accountability for human rights violations
perpetrated by both governments and corporations. It advocates for the home states of transnational
corporations to fulfill their extra-territorial obligations and regulate the activities of their corporations. CAWG
advocates for corporate accountability standards and builds collective transnational capacity to challenge
systemic patterns of corporate abuse.
The Working Group on Adjudication promotes strategic litigation at the domestic and international levels as an
effective tool to ensure accountability for violations of Economic Social & Cultural Rights (ESCR)
Suma Justeco would fit nicely into a number of ESCR nets working groups, specifically its Corporate
Accountability Watchdog Group (CAWG) and The Working Group on Adjudication. Corporate accountability is
one of the core goals of SJ, and litigation (adjudication) is one of the tools in its toolkit. The Adjudication Working
Group could further Suma Justecos own efforts by identifying cases which are appropriate for the piloting of SJs
innovative transnational litigation strategies.
-www.escr-net.org/cat/i/1372
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Legal empowerment of the
people as a path to justice
Issues of Focus
Delivering quality legal aid
Community land rights
Environmental law
The right to citizenship
Essential service provision
Network Structure
Open membership
Supportive
Open source content
Relevant Specialties
Legal aid 2.0 program
Namati is an organization which convenes an international network
of practitioners for the purpose of advancing justice. It runs a
formal network with a number of robust functions to assist its
member base, including: a publicly accessible compendium of legal
empowerment tools, and the hosting of workshop sessions,
forums, working groups, networking spaces, trainings, scholarships,
and regional meetings.
In addition to moderating the Namati network, the organization
also partners with community paralegals and grassroots activists.
The paralegals use advocacy, mediation, community organizing,
and education to assist citizens in discovering concrete solutions to
instances of injustice. Community paralegals are close to the
communities in which they work and they are able to deploy a
flexible set of tools. Namati is also connected to group of lawyers
and entertains the possibility of litigation if local frontline methods
fail.
Namatis community land rights protection program is proactive (seeking to establish land rights) as opposed to
Suma Justeco which is retroactive (seeking redress for abuse of land rights). So, although direct partnership
opportunities on land rights are limited, Namati can provide cases where their land-rights efforts are being
abused by multinational corporations. In such cases, Namatis legal aid 2.0 paralegals could prove valuable local
partners for Suma Justecos law students and pro-bono attorneys seeking to conduct transnational accountability
efforts - especially in the realm of environmental enforcement.
-www.namati.org
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PRO BONO
CLEARINGHOUSES
Pairing Legal Needs with Legal Experts
Suma Justecos efforts require legal support and partnership from a
diverse range of experts. A major challenge to relying on outside
counsel is connecting with advisers and partners with the necessary
skill sets. Pro Bono clearinghouses act as matchmakers; they
connect Suma Justeco to pools of attorneys, paralegals, and legal
researchers with the specific knowledge needed for each case.
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Ensuring that legal support is available for all
those involved in the fight against poverty
Year of Registration
2004
Issues of Focus
Millenium development goals
Region of Focus
Worldwide
Matchmaking Method
Dev. org. makes a legal request
A4ID shows request to lawyers
Lawyers decide to undertake
Organizational Requirements
Must be approved by A4ID
Must be serving the MGDs
The goal of A4ID is the congregation of legal, academic and
development communities to focus on questions of international
development. A4ID limits its support to groups explicitly furthering
the agenda of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); all
development partners must be working toward one of the MDGs.
(the MDG most closely relating to Suma Justeco is MDG#7:
ensuring environmental sustainability) Legal advice is provided to
development partners, but A41D doesnt engage communities on
the ground or provide them with direct legal services.
A4ID furthers its goals by using a brokerage portal to connect pro
bono lawyers with cases being worked by its development partners.
All development partners must be approved by A4ID before they
can receive support. A4ID also works with its development
partners to hold events and spread awareness about the role that
law plays in international development. These events can range
widely in topic and have included: banking/tax law, microfinance,
best practices, research projects, climate change, and corporate
partnerships.
Suma Justeco could potentially become a development partner if A4ID is convinced that SJ is actively pursuing
MDG#7: ensuring environmental sustainability. Once made a development partner, SJ could us the brokerage
service to seek pro-bono support for environmentally damaging transnational justice cases. However, SJ is not a
strictly development organization per se, so its approval is less than certain.
- http://a4id.org/about-a4id
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Connecting the pro bono community
Year of Registration
2009
Issues of Focus
Cross jurisdictional collaboration
Region of Focus
India
Matchmaking Method
Member makes a profile
Member posts/reviews offers
Member makes direct contact
Organizational Requirements
Must provide/request the
services of a lawyer/academic
i-Probonos central focus is using an online network to connect
organisations in need of legal assistance with lawyers and students
seeking to use their own legal skills for the public good. The
network is an innovative user operated social-media style platform
which is open to a wide range of organizations including: charities,
social enterprises, international NGOs, advocacy groups, and
grassroots groups. It links student researchers to relevant projects
and legal experts to organizations seeking counsel. Unlike many
other pro-bono clearing houses, i-Probono isnt focused around any
sort of central theme or goal.
i-Probono has a number of features which open the door for more
individuals and groups to participate, such as: being user operated,
allowing for a variety of organizational types, not requiring an initial
review, and not requiring specific performance standards from
partners.
Because i-Probono has low hurdles for entry and can provide both
researchers and legal advisors, it could be a valuable resource for
support during Suma Justecos infancy.
- www.i-probono.com
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Year of Registration
1997
Issue of Focus
Legal justice & human rights
Region of Focus
Hungary
Russia
China
Matchmaking Method
NGOs are screened by PILnet
Legal requests made by NGOs
Partnered lawyers choose a case
PILnet continues to facilitate
Organizational Requirements
Organization must be an NGO
PILnet is an organization dedicated to developing the legal
landscape of justice and human rights through networking and
education about the legal field.
PILnet actively moderates its own pro bono clearinghouses.
These function by receiving requests from NGOs, and then
presenting those requests to their network of lawyers who can
then choose cases based on interest. (PILnet coordinators
serve as a conduit) Services are available only to NGOs, but a
501c3 status is not required.
In addition to its networks, PILnet runs an International (and
various national) Fellows Programs. Fellows are nominated by
local NGOs to become PILnet fellows and undertake
skillbuilding and project planning workshops. Fellows return to
their local NGO at the end of the program to implement the
project developed during their fellowship. PILnet also assists
law-schools to advance their methods, curriculum, skill-building
workshops, and resource dissemination.
PILnet can be a useful resource for SJ because it maintains a
regulated clearinghouse which is accessible by non-501c3
NGOs. (SJs current legal status) However, since the network
is concentrated in select regions, it depends greatly on SJs pilot
case selection.
Justice needs advocates
-www.pilnet.org
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Organizations that Offer
LEGAL SUPPORT
Direct Legal Assistance
Direct legal assistance is provided by organizations with
lawyers on staff which work directly with NGOs at a pro-bono
rate. They have their own set of values and mission
statements; some of which closely correlate to the values of
Suma Justeco. The following are examples of Legal Support
organizations which are conducive to partnership with Suma
Justeco.
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ISLP assists governments, non-governmental organizations
and other institutions working to build legal capacity and to
advance the rights and well-being of their citizens
Year of Registration
2000
Issues of Focus
Human Rights
Equitable Development
Rule of Law
Primary Office
New York
Other Offices
Paris
London
Legal Capacity (2012)
(96) Law Firm Volunteers
Terms of Service
Client must be serving one of
ISLPs issues of focus (above)
The primary function of the ISLP is to mobilize senior counsel with
diverse expertise, particularly in commercial and corporate law, to
offer pro-bono support to cases and issues in the global south. It
assists its clients (governments, non-governmental organizations,
and other institutions) in building legal capacity and advancing the
rights and well-being of their people. ISLP connects active and
retired volunteer lawyers to clients (and the communities which
they represent) in less developed countries for cases involving
human rights, equitable economic development, and rule of law.
ISLP uses a number of mobilization tools including technical
assistance, capacity building, training & mentoring, legal research &
analysis, and direct legal counsel. One particularly relevant tool is
Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for communities which have fallen
victim to land-grabs. ISLP offers these communities counsel in
contract (re)negotiation, environmental law, and land ownership
claims.
How it could interact with Suma Justeco: ISLP links its law firm
volunteers to NGOs that are conducting legal advocacy for human
rights in the global south. SJ is an aspiring NGO in need of legal
support for addressing transnational human rights injustices. ISLP
was specifically formed to support organizations like SJ;
organizations which align with their issues (in this case: Human
Rights).
Since ISLP cases need not be strictly environmental in nature, its in a position to provide legal support to SJ for
cases that environmentally oriented pro-bono suppliers would not - cases like land-grabs or mass human
displacements caused by transnational development projects which are not environmentally harmful.
- www.islp.org
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Crossing borders to make a difference
Year of Registration
2000
Issues of Focus
Corruption
Civic rights
Land title conflicts
Primary Office
Hartford CT, USA
Legal Capacity
In-house volunteer lawyers
Terms of Service
Must be an NGO
Must pass LWOB application
Must keep contact with LWOB
as facilitators to the partnership
Lawyers Without Borders (LWOB) works to protect the integrity of
legal process, serve the underserved, and promote the culture of
pro bono counsel in the legal field. LWOB develops programming,
builds capacity, and provides technical assistance in developing and
post-conflict regions.
It helps lawyers develop skill sets in the areas of trial advocacy and
human rights in developing sectors. It acts as a neutral observer for
trials, conflict scenarios and detention facilities. It also conducts a
variety of development workshops on subjects such as mediation,
community outreach, civic education, research, and technical
assistance.
LWOB is not a clearinghouse; it launches collaborative projects
using lawyers and law firms which are guided by detailed Task
Memos and TOR (Terms of Reference). It utilizes its own in-house
lawyers to provide personal program oversight and management of
each case - start to finish.
LWOB could engage Suma Justeco by pairing it with legal counsel
for cases involving land-grabs (Land Title Conflicts) or
embezzlement of canons from extractive industry projects
(Corruption). Its services are especially valuable because it provides
support throughout the entirety of the case, rather than just playing
legal matchmaker at the onset.
- www.lwob.org
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Relevant
LAW CLINICS &
RESEARCH INSTITUTES
Solid Theory; Solid Practice
Many of the finest universities, think tanks, and law clinics have
special research divisions which are highly relevant to the work
of Suma Justeco. The following institutes have been identified
as ideal partners for exploring theoretic legal frameworks and
for the outsourcing of research projects.
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A focal point of international human rights education,
scholarship and practice at Columbia Law School
Location
New York City NY, USA
Relevant Issues of Focus
The global economy
Activities and Projects
Extractive industries
Tea plantations
The Human Rights Institute (HRI) pursues human rights litigation
and advocacy, often in partnership with grassroots organizations as
well as international NGOs. The HRI has a Global Economy
initiative with a well developed Extractive Industry component.
This component conducts research and advocacy aimed at
addressing the so-called resource curse with an angle towards
bolstering democratic engagement and ensuring the accountability
of governments and investors. It has conducted a comparative
analysis of mining contracts and enforcement mechanisms around
the world, as well as an extensive research project investigating
industrial mining in the DRC.
Relation to Suma Justeco: Because the HRI is specifically addressing human rights from a potentially litigative
angle, it is well suited to provide law students and fresh graduates who are equipped to pursue transnational
accountability cases; including human rights abuses. Suma Justeco can also submit research requests to faculty
and students of the Global Economy initiative on topics and events that relate to Suma Justecos cases.

- web.law.columbia.edu/human-rights-institute
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Working to protect the human rights of
clients and communities around the world
Location
Cambridge MA, USA
Relevant Issues of Focus
Alien Tort Statute (ATS)
Business and human rights
Human rights & environment
Activities and Projects
Amicus curiae briefs
Multi stakeholder initiatives
The International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC) has ongoing projects
in the realm of human rights and the environment - many of which
are transnational in nature. Current projects include an
investigation of the violence and environmental/health problems
associated with the Porgera mine in Papua New Guinea, and a
documentation of the long-term effects of gold mining on
community and environmental rights in South Africa.
Alien Tort Statute (ATS): The Clinic has played a role in ATS
litigation since 2004 by serving as co-counsel in several major
cases, regularly filing amicus curiae briefs, providing extensive legal
research, offering fact-finding support, and giving strategic
guidance.
Pro Bono component: As a condition for graduation, Harvard Law School requires all J.D. students to complete at
least 40 hours of pro bono legal work. The clients represented are: people who cannot afford to pay for legal
services, non-profit organizations as defined under IRS sections 501(c)(3), or marginalized individuals/groups
whose rights are in danger.
Relation to Suma Justeco: the ATS has been one of the primary litigative tools for transnational accountability,
and the IHRC can provide SJ with good counsel as to how this statute is best utilized and where it has proven
ineffective.
Because of its focus on Human Rights/the Environment and its required pro-bono component, Harvard law
school is in an excellent position to provide law students with substantial expertise on issues relating to Suma
Justecos cases. In return, these students will receive both excellent real-world experiences and will fulfill one of
their graduations requirements.
-hrp.law.harvard.edu/clinic
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Developing practical approaches for governments, investors,
communities and other stakeholders to maximize the benefits
of international investment for sustainable development.
Location
New York City NY, USA
Issues of Focus - Investment in:
Extractive industry
Land and agriculture
Law and policy
Activities and Projects
Research
Policy and advisory work
Multi-stakeholder dialogue
Teaching and curriculum devt
Resource and tool development
The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) is a
research center dedicated to the study, practice, and discussion of
sustainable international investment. It specifically addresses
issues which arise from large scale Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
in the extractive industry sector. The center works with
governments, the private sector, and communities to formulate
and implement practical strategies to support a mutually beneficial
sustainable transnational investment framework.
CCSI does research and reviews policies in the extractive industry
sector with the idea of improving or building new policy
frameworks in the future - not seeking accountability for violations
of existing policies. Its programs include interdisciplinary research,
advisory projects, multi-stakeholder dialogues, educational
programs, and the development of resources and tools.
Potential interaction with Suma Justeco: While it goes about conducting in-depth research on topics such as
complaint mechanisms and contract clauses, CCSI undoubtedly encounters environmental and human rights
violations which it cannot address in a justice-seeking context. It will instead refer these cases to Suma Justeco
while continuing to focus on policy frameworks and other forward facing mechanisms. Suma Justeco can also
utilize The Centers robust research on accountability mechanisms and, in return, provide it with data and
information relating to its cases.
-ccsi.columbia.edu/about-us/our-mission
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