CGJ Student Staff Projects Fall 2018

To provide Regent Law students with practical experience in the legal protection of human rights, students volunteer with the Center each semester for a minimum of 5 hours/week.

This semester, the Center for Global Justice Student Staff will be assisting nine different human rights organizations with nine projects. Here is a brief summary of our work this semester:

1. Shared Hope
   Shared Hope International’s Protected Innocence Challenge provides graded report cards with analysis and recommendations for each state and D.C. based on it's compliance with federal legislation concerning child sex trafficking victims. We have the opportunity to review component 5.6 for each state and D.C. concerning whether a ‘caregiver’ barrier restricts child welfare from providing services to these victims. ‘Caregiver’ barrier is a term that was coined by Shared Hope to describe when child services is not legally permitted to provide services to child sex trafficking victims because jurisdiction of child services is statutorily limited to situations where abuse/neglect comes directly from a ‘caregiver.'
   
   
2. IJM Uganda
   We are researching the legal and psychological aspects of different issues stemming from gender-based violence (GBV). Our goal is to identify (1) whether there is an intersection between sexual violence against children and intimate partner violence (does experiencing violence as a child lead to perpetrating or experiencing violence as an adult?); (2) best practices for suspect identification and child testimony in court; (3) how geographic location may impact the issue of GBV crimes; as well as (4) how the Ugandan Domestic Violence Act is being operated today.
   
   
3. IJM
   We are researching the status of enforced disappearances both under domestic law and treaties in a certain nation (which must remain confidential). Enforced disappearances, or ED, occur when there is an arrest/abduction by the State where the State conceals the fate/whereabouts of the missing person, thereby putting them outside the protection of the law. We hope to use precedent from other countries in order to find potential grounds for an independent, criminal cause of action for enforced disappearances against certain governments.
   
   
4. The Market Project
   We are researching the laws of India and Myanmar regarding business registration, human resources, employee protections, privacy issues, etc.
   
   
5. Justice Ventures International
   We are drafting a legal memo regarding securing property rights in the Indian state of West Bengal. The memo will be used to create a legal toolkit to assist attorneys that provide legal support to human trafficking victims
   
   
6. ADF International
   ADF Asia: This semester our team is working to draft a legal memo regarding the abortion laws in various Asian countries. Our goal is to identify countries with abortion laws that may be favorable for ADF to target in their efforts to limit abortion worldwide.
   ADF Europe: For the last few semesters the Center has worked closely with ADF to monitor cases before the European Court of Human Rights. Our goal is to identify cases that ADF may have an interest in intervening on.

7. Christian Legal Fellowship
   We are drafting a legal memo on relevant international law treaties that pertain to the sanctity of life, particularly the legalization of euthanasia for patients who are neither dying nor near end of life nor terminally ill. This memo will assist CLF in preparation of ongoing litigation surrounding the expansion of euthanasia in Canada.
   
   
8. Advocates International Bulgaria
   We are drafting a legal memo regarding lobbying in Europe. The memo will be used to create model legislation on lobbying to help stop corruption and promote the rule of law in Eastern Europe.
   
   
9. Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Uganda
   We are working with the Uganda DPP to combat human trafficking. Currently, Uganda is a “tier 2” nation under the U.S. Dept. of State’s Annual Trafficking in Persons Report. Uganda desires to become a “tier 1” nation, which is the highest ranking given. We are reviewing the Ugandan report and making recommendation on how Uganda can better combat human trafficking. 

The Hope Event

Kyampisi Childcare Ministries (KCM) hosted the “Hope Event,” an awareness event for child sacrifice in Uganda, on August 24, 2018. The event was a gala held to bring together different groups and individuals to learn about real stories of child sacrifice and garner public support to encourage the momentum to see a bill adopted by Parliament that would address the issue head-on. 

The event is named after a little girl, Hope, who survived one-and-a-half years on a shrine while her body parts and blood were continuously harvested for ritual sacrifice purposes.

The event was attended by hundreds of individuals including university students and faculty members, Members of Parliament (MPs), attorneys, musical and visual artists, pastors, NGO representatives, foreign embassy officials and members of the general public. 

The Kyampisi Children’s Choir gave a thrilling performance involving lively music, intricate dance moves, and vibrant costumes. Testimonials were provided by families of child sacrifice survivors of the horrors of the children’s attacks and the recovery process following the incidents. Short videos were streamed of KCM’s work and case background stories. Speeches were given by Seth Miller, Outgoing Political Officer with the US Embassy, Rodney Callanan, Founder of Droplets in a Stream, and Justice Mike Chibita, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Everyone in attendance came with a singular focus: to learn what can be done to bring an end to the tragedy of child sacrifice. Attendees were educated on the magnitude of child sacrifice in Uganda and various ways to combat it. Numerous appeals were made to the MPs present to continue the work of drafting the child sacrifice bill presented last November.

One segment of the night was set apart for presenting various individuals and groups with awards for their efforts to combat child sacrifice and advocate for victims, survivors, and their families. Chelsea Mack, Regent Law Center for Global Justice fellow (pictured below), was presented with one of these awards recognizing her work for the past year with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and KCM.

The Center for Global Justice recently established its fellowship program in the fall of 2017. This program allows recent law graduates to work with NGOs and foreign governments to combat injustice and advocate for the basic rights of the poor and oppressed. Currently, all fellows work in Uganda, either with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions or International Justice Mission.

For the past four years, the Center has sent law students to intern with the DPP during the summer. The main focus of these internships has been child sacrifice. Moreover, throughout the school year, Center for Global Justice student staff members have contributed to the fight against child sacrifice by working on research projects for KCM and the DPP. 

During his speech, Justice Chibita gave ample recognition to Regent Law and the Center for Global Justice for its continual commitment to fighting child sacrifice. Specific recognition was given to former Center for Global Justice summer interns Debbie Stieglitz, Shannon Fields, and Moriah Schmidt, who worked diligently on Hope’s case with Ugandan prosecutors during their internship. In attendance for this event were Regent fellows Pam Dodge, Gloria Dandridge, and Chelsea Mack (pictured below L to R).

The event concluded with the launch of an art exhibition, the Hope Exhibition, created by Ugandan and Australian artists centered around the theme of child sacrifice. The Hope exhibition will be displayed at the Ugandan Parliament throughout the month of September. To view digital images of the Hope Exhibition, please visit https://www.hopeexhibition.org/.             

Summer Internship in Uganda

Greetings from Uganda! My name is Daniel Moxley, and I am currently in Uganda completing a summer internship at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. It has been an honor to participate in the Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law Internship and Fellowship Grant Program. It has been a pleasure to meet and work with Justice Chibita, the Director of Public Prosecutions, as well as Chelsea Mack (a Center for Global Justice fellow at the Office of the DPP) and many other attorneys. More importantly, though, it has been a privilege to serve the people of Uganda.

Students from Regent University School of Law in Virginia, Pepperdine University School of Law in California,
and Mekerere University School of Law in Uganda, visiting Kyampisi Childcare Ministries

The Center’s purpose is to promote justice, human rights, and the rule of law around the world, but it’s purpose in Uganda specifically is to end practices such as human trafficking and child sacrifice. The Center may be unable to end these practices itself, but any progress in that direction is well worthwhile. Over the course of the summer, we were able to make progress on documentation of crimes, court filing systems, and prospective legislation that will hopefully address child sacrifice more directly than any existing laws. This work is vital to the justice system in Uganda. Those who contribute to the Center are enabling its interns and fellows to fight crime, and ultimately, to change the world for the better.

I would encourage students to apply for internships or fellowships in the future. The internship in Uganda is difficult in some ways. Interns will be exposed to terrible crimes, will have to adapt to a new culture, and will have to give up opportunities that might otherwise have been available. But they will change the world.

This post was written by a Center for Global Justice intern.  The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

Chelsea’s Child Sacrifice Presentations with APC

Chelsea Mack has been serving as a CGJ Legal Fellow in Uganda since Fall 2017. She was recently asked to present on the topic of child sacrifice and wrote this about her experience:

Over the last several weeks, I was given the opportunity on two different occasions to present on the topic of child sacrifice. The presentation was based on many of my own observations in addition to information that I am learning throughout my fellowship.

The first presentation was one of the sessions in the Policy Lab sessions that the Africa Policy Centre (APC), a Christian Policy Think Tank based within Uganda Christian University (UCU), hosts for faculty, students, and other interested individuals. The APC members asked me to give an introduction to the child sacrifice issue here in Uganda that was followed by an in-depth discussion among the members. The presentation seemed to spark enough interest for APC to decide to commit to raising awareness of the issue and providing other possible assistance to address child sacrifice in Uganda.

Additionally, I was then asked to give a summarized presentation in a brief conference that the APC organized focusing on child sacrifice. I was one of the participants of a panel that consisted of faculty members of UCU. Various members of the media were present for recording and questions as well as selected UCU students and other invitees.

My prayer is that the issue of child sacrifice will continue to be raised in the media, on university campuses, and among Ugandan citizens so that awareness campaigns are no longer needed.

This post was written by a Center for Global Justice Fellow.  The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

CGJ Publication Persuades Uganda Parliamentarians to Protect Life

The following post was written by Moriah Schmit, a CGJ student staff member, Law Clerk, and third-year Regent Law student.

The right to life is protected in Uganda’s Constitution, and this right specifically prohibits terminating the life of an unborn child. Last spring, the Center for Global Justice heard that Uganda Parliamentarians were debating whether to legalize abortion in Uganda.

The Center was asked to partner with Uganda Christian University (UCU) in writing a white paper in response to the bill, urging Parliamentarians to choose life. The memo focused on Africa’s unique culture and heritage, encouraging them not to be influenced by Western neo-colonialist theories. We argued that Uganda is not obligated to legalize abortion based on principles of international law nor should it do so as a policy matter. We rejoice that Dr. Senyonyi reported to us that Uganda chose not to move forward with the bill and that our paper played a key part in that decision.

Our research included a summary of the harmful effects of abortion, such as problems with sex-selective abortion and lack of adequate healthcare facilities. We of course also argued that Uganda is not legally obligated to legalize abortion under international or domestic law—contrary to what our opponents—including Planned Parenthood—were saying.

On Friday, April 13, Center Directors Jeff Brauch and Ernie Walton met with the Vice Chancellor of UCU, who shared the great news that Uganda has once again chosen to protect life, in large part because of the memo put together by the Center for Global Justice and UCU. It’s amazing to see what God does with our efforts and research!

This post was written by a Center for Global Justice student staff member.  The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

CGJ Fellowship Update from Chelsea (March 2018)

Chelsea Mack has been working with the DPP since fall 2017 when the Center for Global Justice Fellowship Program first began. Through this program, Regent Law graduates are able to work for one year with one of the Center’s partner organizations fully funded by the Center.

I recently passed the six-month mark for my time in Uganda.

After many weeks and months of adapting to the culture here, I feel settled in this beautiful country.

An update on recent case proceedings…

A special session was held in the High Court of Mukono for a child sacrifice case. The High Court Judge, Justice Margaret Mutonyi, requested that the session be physically held in the court in Kayunga because many child sacrifice cases arise from that region. Her goal was to send a message to the community saying that cases of human sacrifice will be heard and suspects will be held accountable for their actions.

CGJ Fellows Chesea Mack (L) and Pam Dodge (R) at Special Session

The case hearing was that against Godfrey Kizza. The accused person is a witch doctor who sacrificed a 19-year old male in 2016 for the purpose of gaining wealth. Kizza pleaded guilty. Thus, the case hearing proceeded with the prosecution and defense attorneys making their case for their preferred sentences. Although the crime is punishable by death, the prosecution asked for an imprisonment sentence for the natural life of the accused. Contrarily, the defense attorney asked for a 35-year imprisonment sentence.

On Wednesday, March 7, Justice Mutonyi sentenced Godfrey Kizza, a young man in his 20s, to imprisonment for his natural life. He will spend the rest of his days in prison.

In my opinion, one of the most amazing details of the sentencing was Justice Mutonyi’s intentional incorporation of biblical principles and references in her legal opinion. She referenced the stories of Jacob and Esau, Cain and Abel, and repeatedly emphasized the sanctity of human life. Furthermore, she took a few minutes to address the community members in the courtroom regarding witchcraft following the sentencing. One of her final statements before court was adjourned explained that Jesus Christ was the last human sacrifice that was needed. It was unbelievable to see a judge freely sharing the Gospel during a court proceeding.

While we celebrate the victory with this sentencing, I ask that you continue to pray for other cases...

• Clive’s Case. There is another trial that began this week in Mubende for the case of Baby Clive, a three-year old boy, who was sacrificed four years ago. There are six accused persons in this case. One of the accused persons was sentenced to a 35-year imprisonment this past week. The trial will continue over the next week and hopefully will conclude quickly.

Clive's Case

• 
  Allan’s Case. This case was supposed to be included in the special session that was scheduled for the last two weeks, but unfortunately, it appears that we will have to wait longer for justice to be done for him and his family. Please pray that the matter will be heard sooner rather than later and that all necessary documents and witnesses will be available when the time for his trial comes.

Additional Photos from the Special Session:

Group Photo

Special Session - Day 1

Chelsea and Pam with the Prosecutors

Chelsea, Shelin, and Pam

Learn more about Center for Global Justice fellowships here >

Bridging the Gap between Humanity and the Law

Student Staff Member Courtney Hitchcock

My first few weeks on the CGJ staff have been eye-opening and invigorating to my understanding of the law and human rights.

This semester, I have the opportunity to work for the International Justice Mission (IJM). One of my primary tasks is to understand what gender-based violence (GBV) looks like in Uganda and how that compares to other East African countries. The goal of this research is to help us understand the problems individuals face in this country so IJM can better prosecute these cases and affect change in their lives moving forward.

As a first-year law student, my days are filled with the basics of the American system. I learn civil procedure, which grants rights to both plaintiffs and defendants to ensure a fair trial. I learn tort law and contracts, both of which have a rich history of ensuring a voice to each side of an issue. I also learn property law, a subject deeply rooted in our nation’s legal history. 

It wasn’t until beginning work for the Center that I realized the importance of these doctrines and systems to the continuance of human rights. Without property law, there is no way of ensuring you get to keep your land aside from the use of brute force. Without tort law, there is no way for a victim to recover from her injuries. Civil procedure is an amazing system that ensures fairness at trial. Our courts are not infiltrated with corruption and deceit.

I had taken our legal system for granted.

While researching for the Center, I’ve come to understand how amazing the law is, and how not all people enjoy the same rights we do in the states. I now recognize that the topics which I once thought of as textbook material have a real impact on those whom God loves. This revelation has not only made American law more real to me but also increased my belief in the importance of the work I’m blessed to do at the Center. Although I’m just beginning to learn about the intricacies of human rights issues abroad, I’m so excited for the ways it has already opened my eyes to the importance of the law and its impact on humanity.

This post was written by a Center for Global Justice student staff member.  The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

2018 Center for Global Justice Fellowship Announcement

Congratulations to 3L Gloria Dandridge, who is our first 2018 Center for Global Justice Fellow!

Gloria Dandridge

Gloria joined the Center for Global Justice (CGJ) as a student staff member, working on legal projects for our partner organizations.

In 2016, Gloria served as a CGJ intern with the Land and Equity Movement of Uganda (LEMU), an organization that uses law and politics to bring change to Uganda by stimulating debate about land tenure and helping to protect the land rights of the vulnerable population in Uganda. Gloria conducted legal research on land grabbing, edited policy briefs, and even attended a mediation.

In 2017, Gloria interned with Advocates International South Africa, working to combat abortion, promote religious freedom, regulate pornography, and protect the poor.

This fall, Gloria will return to Uganda as a fellow to work with the Office of Directorate of Public Prosecutions  (DPP), the equivalent of the United States Attorney General. Gloria will assist the DPP in prosecuting cases of child sacrifice, thinking about how to create a juvenile division, and reviewing the relatively new plea bargaining initiative, which has been directly responsible for ensuring that children do not languish in prison beyond the terms of their sentences.

Gloria will be following in the footsteps of one of the first two CGJ fellows, Chelsea Mack.  Chelsea has been working with the DPP since fall 2017 when the Center for Global Justice Fellowship Program first began. Through this program, Regent Law graduates are able to work for one year with one of the Center’s partner organizations fully funded by the Center.

You can see more about Gloria and donate to the work of justice below or on Gloria's page here >

Legal Projects with International Justice Mission and Alliance Defending Freedom

As a first semester member of the CGJ Student Staff, I’ve spent the last few weeks trying to get my bearings and really delve into the projects I’ve been assigned.

Student Staff Member Corrie Lee

I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to work on two impactful projects with two different organizations this semester: International Justice Mission (IJM) and Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). My first couple of weeks were heavily focused on the ADF project. I am monitoring cases going before the European Court of Human Rights and sending weekly reports to Dean Walton and the ADF team, including cases that ADF might have an interest in intervening on.

As you can probably imagine, the cases going before the Court are atrocious crimes against humanity. Many cases include loss of life, property, religious freedom, or expression -- freedoms we enjoy so lavishly here in the United States. Reading over these cases has given me a new appreciation for the work the Center and ADF do, as well as, the blessings I receive as a United States citizen.

Now that I’ve got my feet firmly planted in the ADF project, I’ve shifted a significant portion of my time to the IJM project. My team is working on drafting a research memo regarding gender-based violence in Uganda. We’ve split the work into separate pieces so it’s more manageable, and I am focusing on the laws, regulations, and procedures that are in place to hold perpetrators of gender-based violence accountable.

This post was written by a Center for Global Justice student staff member.  The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

Partner Organization: The Market Project

Student Staff Member Aja Mallory

This semester I am researching employment law and communication law for the Market Project.

The Market Project establishes businesses that provide sustainable and healthy places of employment for men and women who have experienced multifaceted traumas.

I am specifically focusing on the employment and communication laws of Uganda.

The Market Project operates a yogurt producing operation that employs around 40 men and women.

The business is moving to increase its productivity, grow its workforce, and expand its market reach in the towns that have no locally produced yogurt.


This post was written by a Center for Global Justice student staff member.  The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

Prayer for Child Sacrifice Case in Uganda

Allan

Please be praying for a child sacrifice case in Uganda. The Center first became involved in the case in 2013. Our first ever Uganda intern went to Uganda and was assigned to follow up on the case, which was originally dismissed without explanation. Our intern worked on gathering all the materials, reviewing the case file, talking with witnesses and police, etc. 

Three years later, in 2016, a few other interns worked on the case again. They found a defect in the proceedings of the case and helped draft an appeal. The appeal was granted, and miraculously the case was reopened.

The case is set for trial this week, and one of our fellows is working on it. However, we just found out that the police file went missing again. Without that file, there will be no case. Please pray for the file to be found and for justice to be done.

UPDATE: Thank you to all those who prayed for Allan's trial in Uganda.  The police file has been found and the session has been rescheduled again and will now begin on March 2. Praise God! 

As of now, there are three child sacrifice cases scheduled to go to trial during the session. We are in the process of adding in another case that is a trafficking issue. There may also be another case or two added before the session begins.

To read more about the case, go here: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-15255357 (Allan is the victim). 

Watch a short video of one of our fellows who Skyped with us to talk about her work against child sacrifice in Uganda:

CGJ Student Staff Projects for Fall 2017

We wanted to provide a brief update on the work of the Center this semester. Every semester the Center for Global Justice student staff completes legal projects for other organizations.

Currently, we are working on a number of important projects, and we welcome your prayers for each. The projects are listed based on the organization for whom the project is done and the human rights issue that it covers:

1. Shared Hope: We continue to assist Shared Hope with the Protected Innocence Challenge, a comprehensive 50-state survey that grades each state with respect to its legislative framework for combatting child sex trafficking. This semester our project focuses on researching and analyzing the laws of the fifty states with respect to alternative court processes for minors. The goal is to determine which process is best suited for child sex trafficking victims and whether changes to the processes need to be made to better protect these victims. We also are assisting Shared Hope with researching whether any state has passed new legislation that could impact their grades on the Protected Innocence Challenge.

2. International Justice Mission: We are doing different projects for various IJM offices this semester. One relates to holding police officers accountable for their actions, and this project is largely confidential. The other projects relate to strengthening the rule of law and creating a case digest of all domestic violence cases in Uganda.  

3. Justice Ventures International: JVI fights human trafficking in India and also works to protect the poor. This semester we are researching the laws of the state of West Bengal regarding various governmental entitlements that human trafficking victims and the poor can utilize. The goal of the research is to supplement a lawyers’ manual that will aid local lawyers in securing benefits for the poor.

4. Handong/Mongolian Parliamentarian: In conjunction with Handong International Law School, we are researching the history of religious freedom in Mongolia, going all the way back to Genghis Khan empire. Surprisingly, Khan offered robust protections for religious minorities, including Christians. Ultimately, we would like to use our memo to advocate for Mongolia to enhance its protection of religious freedom.

5. Kyampisi Childcare Ministries: KCM continues its great work of fighting child sacrifice in Uganda. Ugandan law allows for courts to order that the offender pay restitution to child sacrifice victims. We are drafting a memo on why restitution is a key piece of a criminal justice system, particularly for child sacrifice victims, and providing a draft order for courts to use. In addition to this project, we will assist KCM on any child sacrifice cases that come through the courts this semester.

6. ADF International: In partnership with ADF International and various other pro-life groups, we drafted a submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee arguing that abortion is not a protected right under Article 6, Right to Life, of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. To read our post, go here. To read more about the project, go here.

CGJ Student Staff Update from Shannon Fields

This blog post was written by 3L Shannon Fields.

This semester I have had the privilege to work on a project for Kyampisi Childcare Ministries (KCM). The organization fights child sacrifice in Uganda as well as provides rehabilitation for the victims. KCM asked the Center for Global Justice to write a memorandum about why restitution should be granted to child sacrifice victims and/or their families.

Although there is a statute which permits the courts to grant restitution to such victims, it is rarely implemented. Child sacrifice crimes not only cause extreme emotional hardship for the families, but they also cause financial hardships. It is not enough to remove the perpetrator from society. Steps should be taken to attempt to make the victim or victim’s family whole once again, and restitution is one of those steps. Restitution has the potential to provide financial relief to the victim’s family, and unfortunately, it is not being utilized in regard to child sacrifice crimes. The hope is that this memorandum will motivate judges to grant restitution to the victims to pay for their medical expenses, psychological treatment, and other needs. It is a privilege to get to encourage change in Uganda, a place near and dear to my heart.

This post was written by a Center for Global Justice student staff member.  The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.

Giving Tuesday 2017

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (November 28, 2017). Started in 2012, Giving Tuesday seeks to intentionally shift focus away from commercialized events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law depends on generous donations from people like you to accomplish its mission. By God’s grace, and through your faithful support, we are literally changing the world. Whether combatting child sacrifice in Uganda, fighting sex trafficking around the world, or advancing the rule of law in war-torn African nations, the Center is making a lasting impact in the lives of the oppressed and vulnerable around the globe.

There are two specific areas where we particularly need funding: (1) our Internship/Fellowship Grant Program and (2) the East Africa Initiative.

Internship/Fellowship Grant Program 

Every summer approximately 20 second and third-year law students intern with legal organizations around the globe where they work on combatting sex trafficking, protecting children, securing religious freedom, advancing the rule of law, and related human rights issues. Because many students intern overseas with non-profit legal organizations, students are not paid and their costs are quite high (travel, lodging, food, transportation). The Center awards them a grant of $4,000 to $5,000 to help cover these costs – and ensure that they are not shackled with more debt as they prepare for a career in human rights. Our goal is to raise $100,000 each year to cover the cost of 20 internships. To date, 60 interns have served in countries all over the world, including Cambodia, France, Greece, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Mongolia, Pakistan, Nepal, Russia, Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, Malawi, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, in the Middle East, and throughout the United States. The program has been highly successful, not only because it provides students hands-on legal experience while caring for the oppressed, but also because it has opened partnership opportunities for the Student Staff and has even led to jobs for some of our students. Please visit our intern profiles page to read about some of our past interns. One of the most exciting new developments in the Center is the creation this year of a fellowship program. Under this program, the Center for Global Justice provides recent graduates with a full year of funding to work for a human rights organization. Our fellows receive invaluable legal experience doing work on behalf of the poor and oppressed. Our first two graduates secured fellowships with International Justice Mission Uganda and the Attorney General of Uganda. Donations to the Center for Global Justice Internship/Fellowship Fund help participating interns with living expenses while taking unpaid or low pay internships to expand their real-world experience. Donations marked for individuals are not tax-deductible and should not be given to the individual directly.

The East Africa Initiative 

Our East Africa Initiative is simply a response to God’s leading. Primarily centered in Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo the Center for Global Justice’s East Africa Initiative is focused on advancing the rule of law and protecting the weak and vulnerable. The Center participates in conferences and training on the rule of law and the practice of lawyering and judging as ministry. The Center has a particularly robust involvement in Uganda. The Center student staff is working on projects involving Uganda and the Center has sponsored numerous internships in Uganda where students work on combatting child sacrifice and land grabbing, among other issues.

Click here to learn more or to donate to the Center for Global Justice >>

Update from CGJ Fellow Chelsea Mack in Uganda

Chelsea is part of the Center for Global Justice Fellowship Program. Through this program, Regent Law graduates will be employed for one year with one of the Center’s partner organizations. Chelsea began her fellowship program in September 2017 with the Uganda Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the equivalent of the United States Attorney General. Chelsea assists the DPP in prosecuting cases of child sacrifice, thinking about how to create a juvenile division, and reviewing the relatively new plea bargaining initiative, which has been directly responsible for ensuring that children do not languish in prison beyond the terms of their sentences. Below is an update from Chesea from Uganda:


Work is challenging and exciting, and a bit overwhelming, all at once. My commute is still pretty awful (some nights it takes two hours to get home, if not a few minutes more!) but I am trying to find things to listen to during my rides to help occupy the time.

One interesting note about work is that all of the prosecutors of the DPP office across the country are on strike. They are demanding higher salaries and are very serious about their actions. This is the third week of the strike and there is hope that it will be resolved soon. How does the strike affect my daily work? Well, many of the attorneys are not in the office. The top management still comes to the office just to ensure that the institution continues running. Since I work in the DPP headquarters with the top management, I am still able to interact with them each day. Although they are in the office, no one goes to court to handle cases. Therefore, there are no criminal matters, of any level, being handled in any court throughout Uganda. This may not resonate too much with you, but just imagine if you had a relative or close friend who was arrested and accused of stealing a phone. Typically, that type of case (at least in the U.S.), may be handled within a day or two of the crime being committed. With this strike taking place, that relative or close friend has now been waiting in a city jail for three weeks for their matter to be brought in front of a judge. This strike could have some serious implications, but the hope and prayer is that a peaceful and satisfactory agreement will be made quickly.

Much of my time has been filled with meeting many of the attorneys and staff in the office. I’m quickly bonding with many of the police officers and bodyguards which would seem odd, but they are so friendly and accommodating. They usually help me with lunch suggestions and figuring out how to get around to different parts of Kampala by taxis or bodas.

Peter, from KCM, recently presented on witchcraft at a U.N. session in Geneva. When we reconnected after his trip, we began creating a timeline for the work that we want to accomplish over the next year. In the last week, I have read through different documents with graphic pictures and descriptions and held discussions about topics that are really not the most uplifting. It’s still hard to grasp everything I read, see and learn, but thankfully, my mind does not dwell on the details too much once I leave work.

One of the bright moments of going out to work at KCM’s campus is meeting the students at their school. A couple of the kindergarten students seem to remember me whenever I show up (probably due to my accent and lighter complexion) and invite me (or rather, drag me across the campus usually while running in the hot sun) to explore the campus with them.

These are wonderful breaks from the court visits and computer staring that I am consumed with each day. I think it’s a beautiful reminder that this young population is the primary group that we are working to protect.

There are still many aspects of life in Uganda that I am adjusting to, but I am pushing through and soaking in every minute!


Learn more about the Center for Global Justice Fellowship Program >

Donate to Chelsea's page >

Regent Law Ranked Top 15 Law School for Human Rights by PreLaw Magazine

Regent University School of Law was one of 11 law schools in the country to receive an "A" rating in Human Rights law and ranked in the top 15 of all law schools for human rights law by Prelaw Magazine.

Center for Global Justice Academic & Administrative Director and Assistant Dean of Admissions, S. Ernie Walton, who is a Regent Law grad himself, was thrilled to see the rating: “We are honored to receive this recognition, and we praise the Lord for what He has done,” said Walton. “In just seven years, Regent Law has grown from a school with only a few human rights-related programs to a school with a thriving human rights Center that is equipping students for a career in human rights and providing invaluable support to front-line human rights organizations.”

The Back to School 2017 issue of PreLaw Magazine, a National Jurist publication, ranked the top schools for Criminal Law, Human Rights, and Health Law. An "A rating" represented a score of 90% or higher for schools who earned percentages for a human rights concentration, clinic, center, journal, student group, and certificate.

The Regent Law Center for Global Justice, founded in 2010, equips students and supports human rights organizations in the following ways:

• 90 Regent Law students have joined the CGJ student staff and logged over 11,500 hours of pro bono hours for human rights organizations around the world, donating an estimated value of $865,575 in legal work.
• 160 Regent Law and Handong International Law students have been sent out as CGJ summer interns by the Center, logging approximately 43,200 hours of pro-bono legal work at an estimated value of over $3.2 million.
• The CGJ just sent out its first two Regent Law graduates on fully funded fellowships to work in Uganda for one year.
• The CGJ sponsors 25 Regent Law courses that will help prepare students for a career in human rights.
• Almost 3,000 people have been educated on topics related to human rights and the rule of law through symposia and other events.

Read more about the worldwide impact of the Center for Global Justice >

Click here to read PreLaw Magazine's Back to School 2017 issue >

Uganda Fellowship Update from Chelsea Mack

During my first week of work in Uganda, I was able to spend a day with Peter from one of the Center's partner organizations, Kyampisi Childcare Ministries (KCM). Our time together was filled with planning work projects for the next year, meeting the KCM staff, and touring the 14-acre campus owned by the ministry. There is a lot of construction happening right now for new facilities for the children they serve. I was completely blown away by the depth of services that the ministry provides to child sacrifice victims.

One of my favorite parts of the tour was visiting their prayer mountain. Kyampisi, the location of the ministry, was once the primary area where witch doctors lived and this mountain was the area where they performed many human sacrifices. When KCM settled in, they were able to purchase the land, placed a cross on top of the rock where sacrificing took place, and now have intercessors pray from the mountain every week. They eventually plan to relocate their church to the mountain. This mountain is a true example of the light of Christ entering into the darkest places to bring hope and life.

I am honored and humbled to be able to serve alongside this ministry as well as alongside the faithful staff members of the DPP.

Learn more about the Center for Global Justice Fellowship Program >

Donate to Chelsea's page >

Fellowship Update: Pam in Uganda

In the midst of a lot of terrible news, I bring you some beautiful stories that I hope will you fill you with as much joy and excitement as they have filled me!

I have often spoken of “cultural change” in theoretical terms. Truthfully, it takes both good strategy (theory) and individuals who engage in gritty, hard work. Last week, I had a front row seat to actual, cultural change, and it was pretty incredible.

I jumped in to work just over two weeks ago, during what was the busiest two weeks of the year for our office. It felt a bit like jumping into a river and getting swept away by the current! But it was fun to immediately get to work and to build relationships quickly with many of the national staff here. Last week, especially, included major events for several of the departments here at IJM, and I had the privilege of participating in a few.

Judiciary & Prosecutors’ Training:

For the past three years, IJM has hosted, in conjunction with the DPP (Directorate of Public Prosecutions—comparable to the Attorney General’s office), an annual training for public prosecutors. IJM hosted a team of Australian barristers and judges to provide training in trial advocacy, as well as training in plea bargaining, and property grabbing offenses. Overall, we were able to provide prosecutors with incredible training, tools and resources.

This year, in addition to the DPP training, we hosted a training with Uganda’s Judicial Studies Institute (JSI) for judges and magistrates from across Uganda. As this is the first year, the training was two days long. Again, we were able to help facilitate incredible training sessions, tools and resources for judges and magistrates.

It’s exciting to see how IJM hosted these events in conjunction with the DPP and JSI. So, it is not IJM hosting the events alone, but rather providing support as the Ugandan government itself seeks to shape its future. At IJM, we use the phrase “bridge-builder.” I saw that in action last week, as the office was able to add value to the Judiciary, the DPP, and JSI simultaneously. These prosecutors, judges, and magistrates are over-worked, with little thanks and few resources, and it was exciting to be able to provide support to them.

Community Celebrations:

When I thought the week couldn’t get any better, I was invited to participate in a “Community Celebration” with IJM’s training team on Friday.

As background, the crime of “property grabbing” provides a different challenge than, for example, the crime of human trafficking. Society generally understands human trafficking and condemns it. In contrast, many communities don’t know of the protections the laws in Uganda provide for widows, and there are some deep cultural understandings around the idea of land inheritance.

In order to combat this challenge, the IJM training team has facilitated community leaders (LCs) in leading “community dialogues”—once a week for the last ten weeks in five different sub-counties. These community dialogues focused on sensitizing the communities to the plights of widows, as well as proper inheritance under the law, and they culminated in a day-long celebration for each sub-county. On Friday, I joined in on the final sub-county’s Community Celebration.

I was overwhelmed as I saw this community take ownership over the protection of widows’ rights. The celebration started with a parade in which hundreds of people marched (along with a high school marching band!), carrying signs (pictures below!) and dancing. The parade ended in a community gathering that lasted all day and included dancing, speech-giving, performances, skits, and a special time to honor widows (IJM clients) in the community.

I was especially overwhelmed to see the men in the community who proudly marched and gave speeches in defense of widows.

It is amazing to me how IJM is working toward transformation from the top-down, and from the bottom-up … literally in the same week. I had a front row seat—as the magistrate asked why property grabbing is a criminal offense and not a civil court issue; as the prosecutor asked for more copies of “Handbook on Property Grabbing Crimes”; as the young man passionately told his community that cultural heirs have no legal right to take widows’ property.

Good strategy, and gritty, hard work. I am truly working in an office full of superheroes—incredible Ugandans who are working tirelessly to make Uganda a better place.

A more personal update is to come… just wanted to share this work update while it was fresh in my heart!

Sula bulungi!

***If you interested in knowing more about “property grabbing,” this might help!

The Center for Global Justice Launches New Fellowship Program

The Center for Global Justice is excited to announce the launch of its fellowship program. Through this program, two Regent Law graduates will be employed for one year with one of the Center’s partner organizations. This year, Pam Dodge and Chelsea Mack, former Center for Global Justice Law Clerks and interns, will work in Uganda.

Chelsea (L) and Pam (R)

Pam started her fellowship with the International Justice Mission in August. Pam will assist IJM in its work to protect widows from having their property stolen, protecting women from domestic violence, and building a just and fair legal system so that the rights of all people are protected.

Chelsea starts her fellowship on September 4th with the Uganda Directorate of Public Prosecutions (the equivalent of our Attorney General). Chelsea will be assisting the DPP in prosecuting cases of child sacrifice, thinking about how to create a juvenile division, and reviewing the relatively new plea bargaining initiative, which Prof. Jim Gash helped to implement. The plea bargaining initiative has been directly responsible for ensuring that children do not languish in prison beyond the terms of their sentences. Chelsea will review the initiative to ensure it is running effectively and make recommendations on how to improve it.

The Center is very excited to see the fruit of this program. With these fellows, we will now be providing year-round support to IJM and the Uganda DPP through Student Staff projects, summer internships, and now year-long fellowships. Please pray for our students and consider giving to support their great work!