Community Legal Education
The Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide helps local advocates inform decisionmakers and engage citizens to build a healthier future for communities and the planet.
ELAW partners publish guides to citizen participation; train community "paralegals" to represent community interests in administrative, legislative, and judicial proceedings; and empower citizens to play a role in decisions that impact their lives.
Our partners often produce unique materials to educate communities about their legal rights, and help them win victories for the environment and public health.
Laos
Hongthong Sirivath teaches villagers in Pajudone, Laos, about the importance of conserving natural resources.
From a draft land rights training guide being produced by Hongthong Sirivath and colleagues at Village Focus International.
This summer, ELAW welcomed Hongthong Sirivath for a two-week advocacy training program. Hongthong is producing the first ever nationwide citizen guide to land use laws in Laos. The guide will be used by trainers to help rural communities manage and use natural resources sustainably. Hongthong lives in Vientiane where he works for Village Focus International.
Hongthong says, "Land use planning is a big focus. We are trying to help the people in smaller villages set boundaries and classify land use types within those boundaries. For example, we help them set up recreation areas and conservation areas, for fish and wildlife. We promote activities that relate to legal advocacy so that people can learn their rights within the law and how to protect those rights. We are trying to bring the laws to the villages via pamphlets that summarize the key articles of the law. We are developing materials appropriate for people in rural areas."
Ghana |
Jamaica |
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| From the Paralegal Training Manual produced by the Center for Public Interest Law in Ghana (see Q & A with Augustine Niber, this issue). | This citizen guide to Jamaica`s environmental laws was produced by the Jamaica Environment Trust. |
Guatemala |
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| From a guide to public participation produced by the Center for Environmental, Legal and Social Action of Guatemala (CALAS). |
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Honduras |
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| ELAW and the Environmental Law Institute of Honduras (IDAMHO) are publishing this bi-monthly "Green Gazette" to provide citizens with information about developments in environmental law. | |
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"We are putting the power of law into the hands of the people."
Lori Maddox |
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