Allies Unknown

Social Accountability and Legal Empowerment

This essay suggests that two strands of social action which have hitherto developed separately—legal empowerment and social accountability—ought to learn from one another. Drawing from the experience of Timap for Justice in Sierra Leone and kindred efforts in many parts of the world, the author argues for five defining principles of the legal empowerment approach: a focus on concrete solutions to instances of injustice; a combination of litigation with more flexible, grassroots tools like education, organizing, advocacy, and mediation; a pragmatic, synthetic orientation towards plural legal systems; a commitment to empowerment; and a balance between rights and responsibilities.

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