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The
Microjustice Initiative was born in 2006, following a conference
organized by International Legal Alliances (ILA) in Madrid (Derechos
para todos: "Is access to rights a luxury article?") In the quest for
developing a structural and sustainable system for enhancing access to
rights for all, the Microjustice approach was developed by ILA and
Tilburg University combining field work and academic research in one
product.
The concept of microcredit, as developed by Nobel Prize winner Muhamad
Yunus, reminds us that the problem of legal empowerment for the poor is
not unique. People with little means also have less access to credit,
water, and medical care. The Microjustice Initiative is a novel approach
to these problems, based on bottom-up innovations. The goal is to create
paths to justice that are less expensive, less time-consuming and less
burdensome.
What is Microjustice Initiative
The Microjustice Initiative is an innovative approach to the actual
delivery of legal services. It strives to increase the efficiency of the
justice system by making better use of the forces of supply and demand,
through the following strategy:
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A network of Microjustice Programs will be set up in countries
throughout the world. Each Microjustice Program in a specific country
facilitates small businesses of Microjustice Facilitators that help
people address their legal needs for an affordable fee.
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The clients and the Microjustice Facilitators are supported by
information on the web. Microjustice Norms and Processes).org will give
an overview of the objective criteria that people use locally to meet
the 10-20 most common legal needs.
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The comparative information on the website stimulates the relevant
authorities and politicians to improve the performance of their justice
services. The Microjustice Programs establish working relationships with
the authorities, press them to improve performance, help them to sort
out problems, and invite them to cooperate with Microjustice
Facilitators.
Using the power, scope and range of the internet, the Microjustice
Initiative provides central information combined with
a local delivery model. The Microjustice Initiative facilitates
research, development and public affairs in the area of microjustice. It
combines the know-how of top experts working on programs in the field,
with the insight of top academics
in the area of dispute resolution system design.
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A network of Microjustice Programs will be set up in countries
throughout the world. They help Microjustice Facilitators to set up
businesses that help people address their legal needs for a small fee.
The 1st pilot Microjustice program was started in Bolivia. Please check
the official website of Microjusticia Bolivia (www.MicrojusticiaBolivia.org)
for more information, and check also our example of fieldwork cases in
Bolivia.
The Microjustice Initiative is now in the phase of crafting partnerships
and welcomes various contributions from:
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Promoters – to support the initiative with their network and contacts
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Field experts and NGO’s – interested in setting up Microjustice Programs
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Entrepreneurs who see Microjustice as a business opportunity
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Partners from the IT-industry and the legal services who wish to
participate in the development of the Microjustice web-
platform
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Academic researchers – to contribute to the research and development
process
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Governments – to partner with the Microjustice Programs in order to
improve access to justice
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Sponsors – to support the initiative or local Microjustice Programs with
funds, labor or in kind
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