Advancing Decriminalization of Poverty and Status

About this grant

The International Legal Foundation will work together with diverse stakeholders within United Nations structures to consolidate principles and guidelines on the elimination of discrimination in law enforcement and criminal justice systems. Together with United Nations member states, civil society justice actors, academics and others, the grantee will help complete research and drafting of these standards. These standards will be introduced for review and adoption by relevant United Nations bodies, including the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. In the period 2023-25, an expert meeting convened by the grantee published an initial report on combatting discrimination in criminal justice systems. This was followed by development of 22 draft principles on ways to eliminate discrimination in justice systems for discussion and review by relevant United Nations bodies. Founded in 2001, the grantee works to address the global crisis in access to justice through improvements to legal aid provision and related policies. International Legal Foundation works both in specific countries in Africa and Asia, while also advocating for policy change globally.