Clear International

INVITATION: Get Out of Jail Fee – The Great UK Lock Up!

Posted by Admin on 08 09 2009

 

In many countries in sub Saharan Africa men, women and children wait for years on remand for trials that may end with no witnesses ever appearing for the prosecution. Often they have no idea of the charges laid against them and, with no legal aid, they are spectators at their hearing; a lack of education compounding their plight, born out of poverty.

CLEAR projects provide pro bono legal aid and education to the poorest in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda – and we would like to expand our support for Nigeria and Ghana.

Once a year we run a CLEAR 100 campaign, looking to supporters to get involved in sponsored activity to raise at least £100 for the work overseas. Every penny raised is used to support the work in Africa.

As part of this year’s campaign we are encouraging local groups of lawyers, students and churches to raise awareness of the injustice meted out to the poor by agreeing to be “locked up” – from 7p.m. to 7 a.m. – and to raise at least £100 from sponsors  for “bail” (£50 for students) to secure their release. Your local coordinator will be notifying you of the date and venue for the great lock up in your area and you are invited to take part in what will be (almost) an African prison experience – see the reverse of the enclosed summons for what you have in store!

• £100 buys representation for at least 4 young offenders when they are brought before the Magistrates for the first time.
• £100 pays for a rural legal education seminar teaching on  human rights and developing the mediation role of local leaders
• £100 pays for a training session for a group of para-legals within a prison so that they are able to educate fellow inmates on how to represent themselves at their upcoming remand hearings.

CAN YOU GET A LOCAL GROUP TOGETHER?
If so, download the instructions and tools for the task, or contact Christine John

CAN YOU RAISE £100?   IT’S JUST ONE NIGHT
Some of our clients spend 5 years or more awaiting trial for relatively minor offences….GO ON! GET INVOLVED.