[{"bbox": [93, 152, 1147, 287], "category": "Text", "text": "assistance to children and to displaced and stateless populations. Particular attention will be given to coordination and exchange of information between this Action and ECHO's programme, and in particular regarding possible case referrals and support to networking efforts of local CSOs and communities of practice. Finally, all activities related to fighting impunity will be designed in complementarity and implemented in coordination with the global thematic programme \"Global Initiative Against Impunity for International Crimes and Serious Human Rights Violations\"."}, {"bbox": [93, 298, 255, 323], "category": "Section-header", "text": "Lessons Learnt:"}, {"bbox": [93, 336, 950, 365], "category": "Text", "text": "The main lessons learnt from the past EU-funded programmes in the sector are the following:"}, {"bbox": [130, 375, 1149, 563], "category": "List-item", "text": "- Delivering in-person activities at community-level has become far more challenging post-2021 due to the increased scrutiny and suspicion from local authorities on justice-related activities. However this type of activity also present an **important positive potential for cascading information**. In the previous phase of the EU-funded justice programme, a follow-up survey with 125 community members who had received legal education sessions showed that these beneficiaries had shared back knowledge learned with over 900 people including neighbors, family and friends. This cascading approach needs to be further integrated in awareness raising activities to improve scalability and sustainability of the programme."}, {"bbox": [130, 573, 1149, 735], "category": "List-item", "text": "- Regarding support to political cases, partners have highlighted that the **success of legal aid programmes should not be assessed based only on how successful the trial outcomes are**, since under the current context there is limited scope for acquittals, but more based on the **holistic support** provided to detainees and their families, including material. Lawyers are also the witnesses of unfair trials and human rights violations and there are good monitoring systems in place to keep track of these violations, which will be essential documentation for possible future transitional justice processes."}, {"bbox": [130, 745, 1149, 1039], "category": "List-item", "text": "- Previous programmes also highlighted the **importance of mediation at community-level**, and its essential role diffusing tensions which, if left unaddressed, can feed into and intensify broader conflict dynamics. However, the rights of marginalized groups and of women should be carefully considered in mediation activities, as communities tend to value conflict resolution and the avoidance of escalation over the provision of justice to the survivors/victims, leaving a potential for unfair outcomes, especially for less powerful social groups. Careful selection processes, trainings, provision of information and resources (including through dedicated apps) as well mentoring processes have all proven effective ways to ensure local mediators have the necessary knowledge to apply human rights-based approaches. Ensuring high quality and fair justice at the community level, as higher up in the formal system, requires justice providers to learn how to recognise their biases, and to know the limits of their skills and what the law requires, including when to escalate a dispute beyond the local level or refer people to legal assistance."}, {"bbox": [130, 1048, 1150, 1290], "category": "List-item", "text": "- Since 2021, people's perceptions on laws and the justice system have changed drastically. The view that laws have been used as tools for oppression is commonplace and the push for fairer and more inclusive justice systems is part of the discourse of strategic stakeholders in current discussions about what a future justice landscape could look like. Although the current context makes any work on access to justice very challenging, it also presents some opportunities that should not be overlooked. There is **ground to influence such discussions through policy dialogue and raise awareness and advocate for more inclusive and harmonised systems**, including through delivering interventions aiming at increasing the understanding of citizens and strategic stakeholders of concepts such as fairness, laws as protection, and rights-based approaches."}, {"bbox": [130, 1300, 1150, 1621], "category": "List-item", "text": "- Finally, a crucial aspect of the success of the EU access to justice programmes until now that has been highlighted by all CSOs partners is the **importance of maintaining a strong network of justice CSO actors and strengthening long-term relationships**. Facilitating strong networking of this kind not only enables cross-pollination of learning and sharing of best practices, resources, and information, but also encourages cross-sectoral collaboration to address interconnected challenges, such as the intersection of environmental issues with land rights, or how legal practices impact on the protection of sexual and gender-based violence survivors. Networking and coordination endeavours are important not only for the effective implementation of programme activities but also to promote the sustainability of services. Furthermore, under the current context characterised by high levels of threats for individuals and organisations working in the justice sector, CSOs and justice actors are **extremely reluctant to engage outside of their trusted circle**, also making it difficult for new actors to emerge. This needs to be careful taken into consideration when scoping for implementing partners."}, {"bbox": [1015, 1654, 1145, 1682], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 19 of 32"}]