Background

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Justice (and Access to it) means different things to different people - in different jurisdictions and cultures.

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The concept of legal advocacy – is generic and transferrable across jurisdictions. It is a process and not a substance and when properly deployed as part of a collaborative strategic model, is a superpower. It is a master mechanism providing ‘teeth’ to any organisation challenging powerful corporates and governments who breach their responsibilities.

 

Virtually every breach of human rights has an end point landing in a criminal justice system – when other remedies have been exhausted. Criminal justice is the bedrock of any democracy and provides ultimate sanctions (when all else fails). If it is not part of a change and compliance strategy - then you don’t have a strategy – you have a plan to fail.

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Key Objectives

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• Overview of a working strategic litigation model – collaboration and capacity building with specialist lawyers

• Explore legal components of the model – advocacy, education, audit and strategy

• Provide practical examples for discussion (Maritime, whistleblowing, supply chain)

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Guiding Questions

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• How does this apply to businesses, government and civil society groups

• What is the ‘best use’ of legal strategy

• Are organisations able to function without specialist lawyers supporting them in human rights work, regulatory frameworks and audit functions – without just ‘re-arranging the deck chairs on the titanic’

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Format

• BHR Mythbreaker/Hot Take

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Session Partners