| Geographic scope: |
National
|
| Country of activity: |
Zimbabwe
|
| Millennium Development Goals: |
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Achieve universal primary education
Promote gender equality and empower women
Reduce child mortality
Improve maternal health
Ensure environmental sustainability
Develop global partnership for development
|
| Mission statement: |
|
| Year established: |
|
| Year of registration: |
2002 |
| Organizational structure: |
Justice for Children (JCT) is a non-profit making organization, which was founded in 2002 by a group of registered lawyers to provide free legal services to minors in civil and criminal cases. The organization is registered as a Trust and this was done in December 2002. In assisting the minors JCT works with their natural or legal guardians. Among the factors that motivated the group are the escalating legal fees which cannot be afforded by many, the rising levels of poverty, the HIV and AIDS pandemic which is accompanied by problems of orphan hood, child headed households and the denial of children¿s rights, increasing cases of child sexual abuse and the absence of an organization which provides free legal services targeting at benefiting minors.
OBJECTIVES
 To provide free legal services to minors in civil and criminal matters,
 To educate society on children¿s laws.
 To research, document and publish findings on children¿s legal issues.
 To lobby and advocate for appropriate legal and policy reform that will benefit children.
LEGAL AID PROGRAMME
The Trust¿s core business is to provide free legal services to children in difficult circumstances. This entails interviewing, advising, drafting court documents and representing in court among other activities. Since children do not have the capacity to initiate legal proceedings, this is done through their parents/guardians and well wishers who have the affected children¿s best interest at heart.
The Trust has adopted a multi-sectoral approach in an effort to address the various challenges facing children in our society. Through complementary efforts the Trust receives the majority of its cases from organizations working with children and government departments which interface with children in particular, Ministry of Education, the department of Social Services and the courts. JCT in turn refers children requiring other support services to specific partner organizations so that they assist the children. In rural and peri-urban communities, JCT has partnered with other organizations through mobile legal aid clinics so that they provide comprehensive services under one roof.
LEGAL EDUCATION
This programme educates stakeholders on child laws in order to empower them to protect the children they work with. It also affords the stakeholders an opportunity to discuss with legal experts issues affecting children. The programme complements the legal aid programme and as such conscientises the community on the need to take appropriate actions, which may include referring cases to JCT, the courts, police, in instances where children¿s rights have been violated. The conscientisation process is achieved by having individual consultations, workshops and seminars with relevant stakeholders and attending and making presentations at workshops organized by other stakeholders.
RESEARCH, LOBBY AND ADVOCACY
JCT carries out appropriate research on children¿s laws and documents the findings with the aim of advocating for appropriate law and policy reform. In doing that it liaises with stakeholders, including the children. The research takes a comparative and human rights approach and as such JCT analyses laws enacted in other countries and those conventions passed at regional, continental and international levels. The findings of these are shared with stakeholders. |
| Number and type of members: |
The organization is governed by a group of six Board of Trustees. The team that runs the day to day activities of the organiation consists of a Director, Programmes Director, one Finance Manager, three Programme Managers, five Project Officers, one Personal Assistant to both the Director and Programmes Director, one Finance Officer, two Finance Assistants, a receptionist and two drivers. There is a total of 18 staff members. |
| Affiliation with NGO networks: |
National Association of Non-Govrnmental Organizations ( NANGO) |
| Funding structure: |
Fees for providing consulting or research services
Donations and grants from domestic sources
Foreign and international grants
|
| Funding structure other: |
The organization is funded by World Education, Swedish Embassy, Canadian Embassy, Southern Africa Aids Trust |
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