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Doing legal empowerment differently: Learning from pro-poor litigation in Bangladesh
Resource type
Authors/contributors
- O'Neil, Tam (Author)
- Valters, Craig (Author)
- Farid, Cynthia (Author)
Title
Doing legal empowerment differently: Learning from pro-poor litigation in Bangladesh
Abstract
Marginalised groups and their allies can, and do, use the law and justice
systems, including public interest litigation, to improve their access to
rights, goods and services.
Yet there is no automatic link between legal action and improved outcomes
for poor people.
Where some minimum conditions are met – a progressive legal framework, a
sympathetic judiciary and legal advocacy organisation – pro-poor litigation is a
potential tool in disputes over rights and resources.
But concrete benefits for poor people also requires state action to enforce
progressive rulings.
Much depends on whether claimants, legal activists and state reformers cooperate
around shared interests, and whether activists can negotiate power and interest
structures to motivate government action to implement rulings.
Effective strategies are those that link litigation with grassroots legal action and
other forms of political and social activism and advocacy.
Donors need to fund legal advocacy organisations in ways that enable them to
select social issues that are locally relevant and political feasible – and allows
activists and reformers to work in politically smart and adaptive ways.
Report Type
Case Study
Institution
ODI
Date
March 2015
Accessed
2018-12-10
Citation
O’Neil, T., Valters, C., & Farid, C. (2015). Doing legal empowerment differently: Learning from pro-poor litigation in Bangladesh [Case Study]. ODI. https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/9585.pdf
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