Instituto de Defesa do Direito de Defesa

The Instituto de Defesa do Direito de Defesa (The Institute for the Defence for the Right to a Defence) was founded in July 2000. Its aim is to guarantee the effective creation and provision of procedural laws to ensure observance of the right of the presumption of innocence and full access to justice for all. The organisation has developed into one of the main actors in civil society’s fight to reform Brazil’s criminal justice system. It works as part of the Criminal Justice Network, a group of seven of the most important Brazilian human rights organisations advocating together for criminal justice reform. The Institute also provides pro-bono legal services in detention centres, drafts and amends legislative proposals, advocates in congress and is developing its strategic litigation work.