Causes 2 – BarefootLaw

Tech-Enabled Justice For All

Creating peaceful communities where people can thrive.

An estimated 5 billion people globally have unmet justice needs.

In Africa, specifically East and Southern Africa where we work, these needs remain unmet primarily because people are located physically, economically, socially and psychologically far from points of justice.

Since 2013, we have leveraged digital technology to create new ways in which people across Africa can overcome barriers to accessing legal information and services to exercise their rights.

Our Interventions

Access to Legal Information:

We create simplified legal information, suitable for distribution through digital technology and community, for individuals to become confident about their ability to handle legal challenges, and employ appropriate dispute resolution mechanisms.

Access to Legal Services:

Through free and tailored legal guidance and dispute resolution, we contribute to individuals becoming confident about their ability to use the knowledge shared, to resolve their legal challenges.

Community Movement and Partnership Building:

This involves partnering with like-minded institutions to expand BarefootLaw’s reach, and establish referral networks for cases outside BarefootLaw’s focus areas. Communities ultimately experience fewer disputes.

Evidence Generation:

Our evaluation team utilizes data to create systems that enhance access to decision-relevant information, leading to improved program design and efficiency. By leveraging data, we can innovate and design programs more effectively.

BarefootLaw Box

This is a solar-powered recycled shipping container, repurposed to overcome structural barriers to access to legal support for rural communities. It is fitted with an internet connection and screens, to allow community members to connect with lawyers for free legal guidance and mediation.

These lawyers are often stationed in the capital of Uganda, a six (6) – hour drive away but could also be stationed anywhere in the world and still be able to serve. We currently run three (3) BarefootLaw Boxes in Eastern and Northern Uganda.

The idea behind their design is to make them beautiful and attractive to all who fear traditional justice institutions such as police stations and courts.

From Access to Equality (FATE)

Through the FATE Project, BarefootLaw has supported over 12,000 women with first-line legal support through our digital platforms. This four-year project, with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is implemented in partnership with Avocats Sans Frontières, Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) and Penal Reform International (PRI). The overall goal is to contribute to “the empowerment of women and girls so that they can pursue justice in an environment that serves their needs” through a two-pronged approach in which;

(i) women are able to demand justice

(ii) decision-makers mobilise to make women and girls’ rights effective. The project is implemented in Northern Uganda (Acholi land), Eastern Uganda (Busoga and Karamoja), and Western Uganda (Bunyoro).

These lawyers are often stationed in the capital of Uganda, a six (6) – hour drive away but could also be stationed anywhere in the world and still be able to serve. We currently run three (3) BarefootLaw Boxes in Eastern and Northern Uganda.

The idea behind their design is to make them beautiful and attractive to all who fear traditional justice institutions such as police stations and courts.

Legal Empowerment for Women using Technology and Innovation (LEWUTi)

We used digital solutions and mediation to support 7,723 women to overcome barriers of geography, knowledge and cost in accessing justice. The target group – the women in Gulu were very receptive of the project and appreciated that a project like LEWUTI had been designed to meet one of their critical needs. The implementation of the project involved interacting with the women in spaces that allowed them to clearly articulate their challenges faced in the communities, which sometimes went beyond the specific objectives off the project. This project was supported by Enabel, under their Wehubit Programme

These lawyers are often stationed in the capital of Uganda, a six (6) – hour drive away but could also be stationed anywhere in the world and still be able to serve. We currently run three (3) BarefootLaw Boxes in Eastern and Northern Uganda.

The idea behind their design is to make them beautiful and attractive to all who fear traditional justice institutions such as police stations and courts.

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Tech-Enabled Justice For All

Creating peaceful communities where people can thrive.

An estimated 5 billion people globally have unmet justice needs.

In Africa, specifically East and Southern Africa where we work, these needs remain unmet primarily because people are located physically, economically, socially and psychologically far from points of justice.

Since 2013, we have leveraged digital technology to create new ways in which people across Africa can overcome barriers to accessing legal information and services to exercise their rights.

Our Interventions

Access to Legal Information:

Access to Legal Services:

Community Movement and Partnership Building:

Evidence Generation:

BarefootLaw Box

This is a solar-powered recycled shipping container, repurposed to overcome structural barriers to access to legal support for rural communities. It is fitted with an internet connection and screens, to allow community members to connect with lawyers for free legal guidance and mediation.

These lawyers are often stationed in the capital of Uganda, a six (6) – hour drive away but could also be stationed anywhere in the world and still be able to serve. We currently run three (3) BarefootLaw Boxes in Eastern and Northern Uganda.

The idea behind their design is to make them beautiful and attractive to all who fear traditional justice institutions such as police stations and courts.

From Access to Equality (FATE)

These lawyers are often stationed in the capital of Uganda, a six (6) – hour drive away but could also be stationed anywhere in the world and still be able to serve. We currently run three (3) BarefootLaw Boxes in Eastern and Northern Uganda.

The idea behind their design is to make them beautiful and attractive to all who fear traditional justice institutions such as police stations and courts.

Legal Empowerment for Women using Technology and Innovation (LEWUTi)

These lawyers are often stationed in the capital of Uganda, a six (6) – hour drive away but could also be stationed anywhere in the world and still be able to serve. We currently run three (3) BarefootLaw Boxes in Eastern and Northern Uganda.