Congratulations to the winners

PILnet’s Global Awards celebrate and honor the extraordinary efforts made by individuals, law firms, and NGOs to strengthen civil society, advance social justice, and protect the public interest around the world. On October 18th, PILnet announced the recipients of two awards, the Local Impact Award and the PILnet Global Partnership Award, and bestowed the PILnet Publico Award at the 2022 PILnet Global Forum.

Nominations for the Local Impact Award and the PILnet Global Partnership Award were submitted via short videos from around the world.  The projects addressed important issues including refugees and others fleeing their countries, climate change, children’s rights, freedom of speech, and promoting, defending, and strengthening democracy. View the videos of all nominated projects here. Voting for both categories of the PILnet Global Awards was open to all 2022 Forum attendees.

PILnet congratulates all of the winners and thanks all of the nominees for their inspiring work.

Pro Bono Publico Award

Noeline Blackwell

The PILnet Pro Bono Publico Award recognizes legal professionals with an extraordinary, passionate, and long-standing commitment to service for the public good. This year, PILnet is excited to honor Noeline Blackwell for her dedication to the advancement of human rights and equal access to justice for all.

Noeline has been a leading force on the professionalization of pro bono legal services in Ireland, establishing the Public Interest Law Alliance, the first dedicated link between civil society and the private legal profession. Since 2016, Noeline has been the CEO of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, where she advocates for women’s rights in Ireland and internationally.

Noeline has consistently championed human rights in Ireland and abroad, as well as the potential of law to create positive social change. Noeline continues to sit on the Board of Front Line Defenders, an international organization working to protect human rights defenders at risk. 

Read More about Noeline Blackwell

Global Partnership Award

 Afghan Women Judges Rescue Project by International Association of Women Judges, Fried Frank, and DLA Piper

This award recognizes the best, most innovative pro bono legal project undertaken as a cross-sectoral collaboration with an impact felt in more than one country.  In this winning project, the partners helped Afghan women judges and their families immigrate to elsewhere in the world safely. This included giving advice on refugee and asylum laws, preparing applications, submitting needed documentation, interfacing with officials on policy and procedural issues, and screening judges’ cases. This project is ongoing.

Learn more about this project in the submission video

PILnet Local Impact Award

Legal Helpdesk for Asylum Seekers in Belgium by Brussels Bar Association, Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen

This award recognizes the best, innovative pro bono legal project with an impact felt at the local or national level. The winning project was implemented by the Brussels Bar Association, Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen, and 30 law firms in response to the reception crisis ongoing in Belgium by providing every day legal information and assistance to hundreds of asylum seekers who are denied access to reception conditions, including ensuring the provision of appropriate accommodation, food and medical care.