Objectives
Fundamental rights: access to justice
ASF Netherlands (Avocats sans Frontières Netherlands) is a non-governmental, non-profit, politically and religiously unbound organization acting in the field of law, justice and access to justice.
Each individual in this world is entitled to unobstructed access to justice. ASF Netherlands pursues to contribute to the establishment and improvement of the rule of law in countries where the right of access to justice is not self-evident. Through this, ASF Netherlands helps to contribute to a worldwide improvement and establishment of the rule of law.
Lawyers
To successfully establish and exercise the rule of law and the unobstructed access to justice independent lawyers are indispensable. Lawyers need to be enabled to exercise their profession in freedom and independence, without influence of the government.
Working Method
The objective of ASF Netherlands is broad and rather complex. After all, ‘access to justice’ is a broad principle in which a lot of different ideas and actors are involved.
ASF Netherlands has both long-term projects as well as short-term projects.
In long-term projects ASF Netherlands works in the specific country for several years, setting up a long-term structure. An example of a long-term project is the project in Suriname where ASF Netherlands has – together with the local authorities and the Suriname Bar Association – set up a system of free legal aid for under age suspects. In case of short-term projects, such as the Philippines-project, ASF Netherlands supports lawyers or bar associations in their efforts to establish the rule of law and independent and unobstructed access to justice.
In both the long-term and short-term projects ASF Netherlands works together with local authorities, such as judiciary, bar association and local NGO’s.