Annual Report 2021-2022

20 Years of Solidarity and Commitment

As we publish this report, Lawyers Without Borders Canada (LWBC) celebrates its 20th anniversary. That’s right, it’s already been 20 years!

Twenty years spent fighting to help the most vulnerable realize their human rights…

Striving to increase access to justice and legal representation; 

Sharing the knowledge and expertise of legal practitioners worldwide; 

Elevating the law as an instrument of change and progress; 

Contributing to peace and reconciliation;

Working hard to establishing the truth and seek justice in emblematic legal cases of crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, gender-based violence, torture, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and other serious human rights violations;

Building a world in which fundamental freedoms and human rights as defined by international law are respected, enforced, and promoted, and a world in which justice is served on an independent and equitable basis;

Inspiring and training actors of change, capitalizing on the younger generations. 

Twenty years of combatting impunity, corruption, discrimination, and inequalities…

Of victories before national and international jurisdictions;

Of partnerships and collaborations with organizations worldwide;

Of advocacy and mobilization to affirm the rule of law and respect for judicial guarantees; 

Of sexual and gender equality, diversity, and inclusion; 

Of volunteer cooperation;

Of international solidarity;

Of commitment.

Human for Human Rights

Twenty years on, LWBC is now recognized for its tangible achievements in the field. 

These outstanding results are the fruit of the relentless work of thousands of people. On the frontline stand the most vulnerable groups and victims of human rights violations who have mustered incredible courage to seek the path to justice, and exceptional generosity to share their journey with us. 

Praise also goes to LWBC’s partner organizations with whom we have had the extraordinary privilege of working in Latin America, the Caribbean, in Africa, and here in Canada. LWBC’s expertise, best practices, theory of change, and methodology are all the product of the lessons learnt with our partners these past two decades. And that’s precisely the idea behind what we know as “international cooperation” – helping each other better defend human rights by sharing teachings and best practices.

LWBC’s success and performance are also largely due to all those who are or have been a part of our great team: staff members, our board of directors, and people at all levels of the organization; participants in our volunteer cooperation programmes; volunteers based in Canada and abroad in project countries; people who have advised us, stood by us as allies and showed us the way.

And not to forget of course our financial partners, donors, those who believe in us and in our mission, and who express their support in the form of financial or service contributions, and without whom we wouldn’t be where we are today, given that the assistance we provide to beneficiaries in the field has always been free of charge. 

We owe this 20th anniversary to them, and we owe it to you. Which is why we’re celebrating together. As a way of thanking you so very deeply, and renewing our common commitment.

Following Through in 2021-2022

Certainly one great way of celebrating is for LWBC to do what it does best – persevere in its mission, building on 20 years of achievements and well aware of the tough challenges ahead. 

This annual report covers activities from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, and demonstrates how LWBC did indeed pursue its positive momentum, leveraging the law and legal mechanisms as instruments of change to secure tangible results in favour of greater access to justice and respect for the human rights of those in vulnerable situations. 

The 18 projects we implemented in 9 countries over the past year – with a higher yearly budget amounting to $15 million – directly impacted the lives of 121,172 persons in vulnerable situations, including 4,740 victims who received legal support. Over 100 high-profile cases of human rights violations were brought before international courts and jurisdictions.

Figures aside, what counts is the difference our efforts make in the lives of the most vulnerable, the most impoverished, the most marginalized, and the most discriminated against. Those with whom and for whom we work. Those who need access to justice the most, those who need to see results in order for their human rights to be realized. 

We’ve summarized these achievements in this year’s annual report. However, our report is just that: a summary. A summary of great victories, progress, and changes against a backdrop of fascinating, moving stories. To delve deeper, and see and read more, we encourage you to head over to our numerous media platforms (including our website and our Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram pages) and to follow us. 

We hope you enjoy reading, watching, and listening to LWBC’s success stories! One thing that’s for sure is that we’ve plenty to do together over the next 20 years before we celebrate LWBC’s 40th anniversary!   

Delia Cristea

Pascal Paradis