On April 20, 2025, the 3rd International Virtual Conference on Clinical Legal Education, Legal Aid & Human Rights was held from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (IST). The event was organized by the Indian Network for Clinical Legal Education (INCLE) in collaboration with Roya Institute for Global Justice, BABSEACLE, and Knowledge Steez Edu Hub.
This international gathering brought together academics, practitioners, and students from across the globe to explore innovative strategies for advancing justice and strengthening clinical legal education.
As one of the three main organizing institutions, the Roya Institute for Global Justice shared a special message during the event. The message was delivered on behalf of the Institute by Angbeen Mirza, Roya’s representative in Pakistan. It emphasized the urgent need for nonviolence, intersectoral cooperation, and global solidarity in the pursuit of justice, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable communities.
The message also included a series of ten strategic proposals for strengthening legal clinics and promoting justice across various areas, including human rights, environmental justice, juvenile justice, academic freedoms, and indigenous rights.
The full message from Roya Institute for Global Justice is as follows:
Message from Roya Institute for Global Justice to the 3rd International Virtual Conference on Clinical Legal Education, Legal Aid & Human Rights (2025)
Dear Esteemed Friends, Colleagues, Professors, Scholars, and Students Participating in the “3rd International Virtual Conference on Clinical Legal Education, Legal Aid & Human Rights 2025”,
As I reflected on what best captures the deep bonds we share and what the world most urgently needs in these turbulent and transformative times, one word came to mind: Nonviolence. The commitment to nonviolent thought and action in the face of injustice and discrimination is not only a moral imperative but also a profound source of hope.
To advance this vital cause, we need interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral, and interfaith collaboration. There is no solution in isolation. Only by bringing together diverse perspectives and traditions can we address the complex challenges facing our global communities.
Let me share the powerful words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., delivered during his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. He was awarded the Prize on December 10, 1964, in Oslo, Norway, at the age of 35—becoming the youngest laureate at the time—in recognition of his courageous leadership in nonviolent resistance against racial discrimination in the United States.
I quote: “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. It is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the person who wields it. Civilization and violence are antithetical concepts. The Black people of the United States, following the example of the Indian people, have demonstrated that nonviolence is not a sterile passivity, but a powerful moral force that brings about social transformation. Sooner or later, all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. I still believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.” End of quote.
May our shared efforts during this conference—and beyond—contribute to such transformation, grounded in justice, dignity, and nonviolence.
In this spirit, I humbly offer a set of strategic proposals—including models for specialized and thematic legal clinics—that may support our common goal of advancing justice, particularly for vulnerable individuals and marginalized communities.
Introduction: From Local Challenges to Global Justice
We live in an interconnected world. Environmental degradation, authoritarianism, discrimination, and inequality may appear local—but their roots and impacts are global. As international institutions face growing pressure and fragmentation, legal clinics, moot courts, and community legal education initiatives must rise to the occasion. They are no longer supplementary; they are central to the global justice movement. Below are proposed models and initiatives that align legal education with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), grounded in solidarity and innovation.
Proposed Activities for Legal Clinics and Related Programs
1. Legal Clinics for Human Rights and Human Dignity: Promoting All Human Rights for All Members of Humanity
Establish legal clinics dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights, with a focus on ensuring access to justice for all individuals, regardless of their background, status, or identity. These clinics will:
• Promote the fundamental rights of all individuals, especially vulnerable populations such as refugees, migrants, ethnic minorities, and marginalized communities
• Provide legal assistance, documentation, and support to those seeking redress for human rights violations
• Advocate for legal reforms and policies that uphold human dignity and eliminate discrimination and systemic injustice
These clinics can work closely with human rights organizations and governmental and international bodies to strengthen legal protections and empower affected communities.
2. Legal Clinics for Academic Freedoms and University Autonomy
Establish legal clinics dedicated to protecting:
• The right to academic freedom—ensuring scholars and educators can teach, research, and speak freely without fear of censorship or reprisal
• The autonomy of universities—safeguarding academic institutions from undue political or commercial interference
Such clinics can assist scholars, students, and institutions through legal advocacy, documentation, and strategic litigation.
3. SDG Legal Clinics
Create multi-thematic legal clinics aligned with the SDGs. Focus areas include:
• SDGs 1 & 10: Access to social protection and economic justice
• SDG 3: Health justice, and legal empowerment for public health
• SDG 5: Gender equality and protection from gender-based violence
• SDGs 13 & 15: Environmental justice and climate litigation
These clinics should collaborate with NGOs, governments, and communities to deliver legal services and inform public policy.
4. Environmental and Climate Justice Legal Clinics: Addressing Climate Apartheid
Develop specialized legal units to:
• Monitor and challenge environmental degradation and policy failures
• Assist communities impacted by climate change through legal advocacy
• Confront climate apartheid by promoting equitable and sustainable climate policies
These clinics should integrate litigation, legal research, and grassroots organizing.
5. Juvenile Justice and Restorative Legal Education
Create programs within law schools to:
• Work with juvenile courts and youth shelters
• Provide legal aid and rights education to minors in conflict with the law
• Promote restorative justice and social reintegration
These efforts foster humane and constructive approaches to juvenile justice.
6. Legal Clinics for Minority and Indigenous Rights
Establish clinics to advocate for minority and Indigenous communities through:
• Protection of Indigenous languages, traditions, and education
• Legal support against displacement, land encroachment, and systemic discrimination
• Advocacy for access to culturally sensitive and equitable legal remedies
7. Transnational and Cross-Border Legal Clinics
Promote collaboration among legal institutions across borders—especially in the Global South—to:
• Support migrants, refugees, and stateless populations
• Address cross-border human rights violations
• Facilitate joint research, legal drafting, and virtual casework
These clinics foster transnational solidarity and experiential learning.
Additional Strategic Proposals
8. Collaborative Frameworks for Legal Education and SDG Advocacy
Establish and sustain strategic partnerships between universities, NGOs, and public institutions to advance clinical legal education and SDG advocacy. These partnerships may include:
• Faculty and student exchanges
• Joint research and legal innovation hubs
• Policy advocacy and rights-based public education campaigns
Such frameworks foster shared learning, innovation, and impact across borders.
9. Street Law and Community Legal Empowerment
Develop Street Law programs aimed at marginalized communities, especially youth and women. These programs will deliver simplified, accessible legal education on:
• Constitutional rights
• Labor and environmental protections
• Access to essential services
Community-based methods and visual tools should be emphasized to ensure inclusivity and relevance.
10. Moot Courts on Global Justice Themes
Organize moot court competitions focused on urgent global issues, including:
• Environmental protection and climate justice (SDGs 13–15)
• Refugee and asylum law (SDG 16)
• Corruption and transnational corporate accountability (SDG 17)
Such events promote legal research, critical thinking, and global justice engagement.
Summary and Outlook
By implementing these proposals, clinical legal education becomes not only a tool for student training but also a transformative force for justice. Legal clinics can be engines of solidarity, innovation, and systemic change—linking education with action, and vision with reality. Through collaboration, creativity, and a shared commitment to dignity and equality, we can work together to build more just, inclusive, and sustainable societies.
With deep appreciation for this ongoing collaboration and heartfelt hope for more impactful partnerships ahead,
Warm regards,
Roya Institute for Global Justice
New York, April 18, 2025