Amid the ongoing evolution of the international right to remedy, the LAWASIA Human Rights Committee has launched a new manual to provide clarity and direction for those working to uphold access to justice worldwide.
The LAWASIA Human Rights Committee has released a new manual that provides practitioners, academics, and policymakers with an in-depth and practical resource on the evolving landscape of the international right to remedy.
The Manual on the International Right to Remedy was drafted in response to growing concern that the rule of law is under increasing pressure – and that addressing these challenges requires solutions beyond traditional approaches.
With extensive editorial support and contributions from the College of Law, the manual brings together core principles and practical strategies to guide legal professionals in seeking redress when domestic remedies fall short.
However, the manual serves a far broader purpose than simply outlining legal principles or acting as a reference tool.
In a statement, the College of Law said the manual is intended to spark deeper discussion and reflection within the profession on how current redress mechanisms operate, how they can be improved, and how collective expertise can help make them more effective.
Immediate past president of LAWASIA, Shyam Divan, noted that the new manual carries forward LAWASIA’s commitment to supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 16, aimed at securing access to justice for all and strengthening peaceful, inclusive, and accountable institutions by 2030.
“Following the release of the LAWASIA Toolkit on Business and Human Rights in 2018, there was a strong commitment to build further on the material and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16,” Divan said.
“SDG 16 is a global goal that seeks to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. By the year 2030, the world community is committed to provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.”
Divan described the manual as a living document, intended to evolve with contributions from member organisations and act as a catalyst for meaningful action.
“LAWASIA envisions the manual as a living, collaborative document that will continue to grow through contributions from member organisations, and facilitate action, particularly when domestic avenues prove inadequate,” Divan said.
Dr Tahlia Gordon, strategic projects lead at the College of Law, headed the editorial team behind the publication.
Through its integration of key principles and comparative approaches, Gordon highlighted how the manual offers a timely and essential resource for advancing human rights globally.
“The manual provides valuable insights for those working to protect and promote human rights across the region and beyond. By providing key principles, case studies and comparative approaches, the manual is a much-needed practical tool,” she said.
