Criminal Justice & Rule of Law

Accountable and accessible criminal justice systems that uphold human rights and the rule of law better address the drivers of violent extremism.

Where criminal justice systems are weak or corrupt, violent extremism can thrive. Criminal justice responses that undermine human rights risk exacerbating the very drivers of violent extremism. The Global Center focuses on strengthening justice institutions like judiciaries, prison systems, and police departments to improve their handling of terrorism cases.

The Global Center works with judges, attorneys, law enforcement, and prison officers to inform national practices with international human rights standards and norms. We help to foster relationships between these stakeholders and with civil society to nurture a broader culture of accountability that allows us to collaboratively address complex security challenges.

Our Work

The Global Center designs rigorous programs that equip criminal justice professionals with the knowledge and skills to counter terrorism while respecting human rights, promoting accountability, and advancing the rule of law.

  • We develop regional legal tool kits and good practice guides that are adopted, endorsed, and employed by practitioners and policymakers.
  • We partner with police, judicial, and corrections academies to train new recruits and active officers.
  • We conduct independent assessments, legal analyses, and policy reviews to ensure decision-makers have access to the latest best practices.

 

Our Partners

The Global Center works with a global network of partners to advance human rights and rule of law.

  • International organizations such as the United Nations, International Organisation de la Francophonie, Global Counterterrorism Forum, and International Organization for Migration.
  • Regional governing bodies including the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
  • Justice networks like the East Africa Judges and Magistrate Judges Association, Pan Africa Human Rights Defenders Network, Association of Francophone Supreme Courts, and International Organization for Judicial Training.
  • National training academies for judicial, law enforcement, and correctional professionals including in Cameroon, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania.
  • Private sector companies such as Baker McKenzie and Salesforce.

Sri Puguh Budi Utami, Director General of Corrections Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia

“Our collaboration with the Global Center has been very helpful in increasing the ability of our prison officers to better understand how a person becomes engaged in violent extremism, while strengthening officers’ skills and resilience when handling violent extremist offenders.”

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