The Institute for Justice Sector Development (IJSD) is a non-government organization established in June of 2006 with offices in the Netherlands and the United States.
Raison d’etreJustice systems and the Rule of Law exist as the foundation for democracy and good governance. The design and management of the public institutions that administer justice and enforce the Rule of Law are critical to the credibility, both nationally and internationally, of any democratic state, its economic prosperity and very quality of life of its people. In a true democracy, these institutions are independent and transparent. In order to be so, they must have the proper framework, standards and resources.
Objectives
To assist donor states, international bodies and other non-governmental organizations create and implement strategies for cooperation, coordination and complementarity to the end of maximizing the efficient and effective delivery of assistance to national justice systems in transition.
and,
To provide expert and practical support to nations whose justice systems are in transition, including assistance in the application of international norms for the administration of law, with a view to achieving popular acceptance, and, most particularly, national sustainability.
Philosophy and Methodology
Much experience has been accumulated and many lessons have been learned over the past few decades in the numerous projects devoted to building independent and transparent justice systems around the world. Some of this experience has been gained after armed conflict and some through peaceful transformations. The Institute is committed to advancing the Rule of Law by organizing that body of knowledge and experience and applying it to the benefit of future justice system transitions.
For the purposes of its work, the Institute adopts the definition of the Rule of Law presented in the UN’s Report of the Secretary-General on the Rule of Law and Transitional Justice in Conflict and Post-Conflict Societies (S/2004/616).
The Institute’s principle working philosophy is to create and execute strategies which enhance the capacity of national institutions to administer the law in a fashion specifically designed to serve the host nation’s particular needs and circumstances, including its culture and history, as well as respect internationally accepted principles of law.
The work of the Institute is carried out by a select roster of Associates, all highly qualified academics and experienced practitioners representing a broad spectrum of the world’s legal systems and bringing together experience from every major international justice system initiative in the last two decades. Each Associate has been selected for their individual knowledge and experience, as well as their ability to contribute to specially formed multi disciplinary teams capable of bringing to bear formidable expertise to the assigned project.
The work of the Institute will be chronicled and published in the public domain to serve as a heretofore unknown resource for future initiatives.
Contact
We hope that this website will provide some insight concerning the IJSD. For further information concerning the services of the Institute or joining in its work, we would welcome hearing from you at contactus@ijsd.org .