Global Clearinghouse Matters:
MARIO Special Edition

NGO: Foundation for Hope

Website: https://www.facebook.com/ZaNadejda

Project: Assistance with drafting a policy document on Child Protection

Jurisdiction: Bulgaria

Legal Topics: Child Protection Laws and Regulations, specifically focusing on sexual abuse

Deadline: Flexible

Language: English and/or Bulgarian

Criteria: Expertise in children’s justice. Knowledge of applicable laws and regulations regarding children’s rights in Bulgaria.

Additional Information:

Foundation For Hope is a non-governmental organization dedicated to aiding vulnerable groups, especially children and women affected by violence. Their focus is on ensuring equitable access to legal, educational, healthcare, environmental, and housing resources. Formed in 2023 following a crisis in Sliven involving sexual abuse of children, they work to raise awareness of systemic legal and protective shortcomings for children in Bulgaria. The NGO is establishing a center for psychosocial support for young victims of violence and collaborating with local institutions, including segregated Roma schools, to respond to the children’s emotional and educational needs. Their efforts also include combating poverty as a root cause of exclusion and discrimination.

The foundation is seeking a professional to draft a comprehensive Child Protection Policy with a particular emphasis on children who are victims of mental and sexual violence. This policy should provide crucial guidance to all staff within the organization, as well as external partners, on how to effectively and sensitively work with children in these critical situations. The policy should include safeguards, rules and processes covering all aspects of the activities of the organization, including those involving children (with particular attention to vulnerable children).

While it would be ideal to have the policy ready for the upcoming festival on June 1st, celebrating the International Day of the Child in Eastern Europe, the policy is intended for the general and ongoing use of the NGO.

NGO: Lithuanian Kazakh Community Nursaule

Website: https://shorturl.at/L1SHf

Project: Assistance with comprehending the regulations for representing clients in Lithuanian courts

Jurisdiction: Lithuania

Legal Topics: Employment Law; Immigration Law; Labour Procedural Law; Civil Procedural Law

Deadline: October 31, 2024

Language: Russian and Lithuanian

Criteria: Expertise in employment law and labour-related issues. Knowledge of court proceeding procedures and regulations in Lithuania.

Additional Information:

The Lithuanian Kazakh Community Nursaule actively promotes the integration of Central Asian migrants in Lithuania through language and cultural initiatives. They organize informal meetings, and engage with authorities and foreign agencies to provide information on the labor market, job search and relevant laws to target audiences.

The organization works with Central Asian migrant workers who are often brought into Lithuania through contracts facilitated by companies from their home countries. These contracts have significant discrepancies between the Lithuanian and Russian versions, with the latter being vague and non-specific, or more favorable toward the workers, keeping them unaware that the Lithuanian versions often contain more disadvantageous provisions. This situation is compounded by frequent bankruptcy declarations of Lithuanian companies employing these workers, leaving them financially unsupported. Despite legal actions, lengthy and costly court proceedings often force workers to return home before cases are resolved.

The NGO is seeking legal expertise to understand the legal standing of the organization in representing individuals who are no longer physically present in the country but still face legal challenges related to their employment contracts and financial disputes. Furthermore, the NGO needs guidance on the specific types of agreements and documentation necessary to formalize this representation in court proceedings and police interactions to ensure that all actions taken are in full compliance with Lithuanian law. 

NGO: Lithuanian Kazakh Community Nursaule

Website: https://shorturl.at/L1SHf

Project: Assistance with crafting guidelines on protecting migrant workers’ rights

Jurisdiction: Lithuania

Legal Topics: Employment Law; Immigration Law; Labour Procedural Law

Deadline: October 31, 2024

Language: Russian and Lithuanian

Criteria: Expertise in employment law and migration related issues. Knowledge of court proceeding procedures and regulations in Lithuania.

Additional Information:

The Lithuanian Kazakh Community Nursaule actively promotes the integration of Central Asian migrants in Lithuania through language and cultural initiatives. They organize informal meetings, and engage with authorities and foreign agencies to provide information on the labor market, job search and relevant laws to target audiences.

The organization works with Central Asian migrant workers who are often brought into Lithuania through fraudulent contracts facilitated by local companies. These contracts have significant discrepancies between the Lithuanian and Russian versions, with the latter being vague and non-specific, keeping workers unaware of disadvantageous provisions. Additionally, after being interviewed and hired by a company in Lithuania, workers sometimes wait 8-9 months for their visa to be processed. During this period, employers may find replacements and if such occurs, workers have only ten days to find another employer in order to legally remain in the country. Compounding this issue, employers declare bankruptcy, citing financial incapacity to pay their employees, leaving the workers without financial support. Despite legal actions, lengthy and costly court proceedings often force workers to return home before cases are resolved.

The NGO is seeking legal support to formulate a comprehensive document of practical recommendations for advocacy. These recommendations will center on proposed legislative amendments aimed at mitigating the challenges encountered by migrant workers in Lithuania. The NGO intends to present these recommendations to government representatives and policymakers during an upcoming event in September, with the objective of fostering legislative advancements and enhancing the legal framework to better protect the rights and interests of migrants.

NGO: Society of Latgalian Culture

Website: https://minorityrights.org/marioproject/database/society-of-latgalian-culture-family-stories-in-multicultural-latgale-and-the-latgalian-language/  

Project: Legal research on the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages

Jurisdiction: Latvia

Legal Topics: Minority Languages

Deadline: Flexible

Language:  English, Latvian

Criteria: Expertise in the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages

Additional Information: 

The Society of Latgalian Culture is an organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the cultural heritage and language of Latgale, a historical region in eastern Latvia. While Latgalian is recognized and protected by legislation in Latvia, it faces challenges in terms of education and preservation. The organization supports and advocates for the  revitalization of the use of Latgalian in daily life, education, and cultural activities.

The organization is looking for a lawyer with knowledge of the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages who will collaborate with the organization’s existing team of specialists in legal research. Experts should be able to provide a thorough analysis of the Charter’s provisions and their applicability to the specific circumstances of the Latgalian language. This includes understanding the rights and protections afforded to minority languages, as well as the obligations of member states like Latvia.  They may assist with policy recommendations, and drafting of legal tools to support advocacy work of the NGOs to demand the implementation of the Charter. 

The volunteer lawyers will be involved in conducting research on educational policies and practices related to minority languages, identifying areas where improvements can be made. They can also assist in defining an advocacy strategy for the inclusion of Latgalian in the educational curriculum. 

NGO: Education and Heritage

Website: https://shorturl.at/RoLAE

Project: Assistance with drafting employment contracts templates

Jurisdiction: Lithuania

Legal Topics: Labor Law, Contract Law

Deadline: October 31, 2024 

Language: Lithuanian and English or Russian

Criteria: Expertise in drafting employment contracts. Knowledge of the regulations concerning the recruitment of minors as volunteers.

Additional Information: 

NGO Education and Heritage aims to strengthen the rights of the Muslim minority in Lithuania by offering comprehensive language and cultural training programs. Their programs are designed to cater to both adults and children, with a particular focus on low-income and unemployed individuals. Their current project includes weekend school sessions and an innovative online platform to foster cultural and religious understanding, thereby promoting intercultural dialogue. Emphasizing the importance of continuous education, they strive to create an inclusive environment where cultural diversity is respected.

The organization is seeking assistance in crafting legal agreements for recruitment. Specifically, they are in search of an employment law specialist to assess their existing employees’ and volunteer contracts and develop templates for future use, ensuring compliance with Lithuanian Labor Law. Additionally, to create a secure environment for their volunteers, the NGO requires legal advice in understanding governmental regulations and standards concerning the recruitment of minor volunteers.

NGO: Education and Heritage

Website: https://shorturl.at/RoLAE

Project: Assistance with drafting GDPR Policy

Jurisdiction: Lithuania

Legal Topics: GDPR, Data Privacy, Data collection

Deadline: October 31, 2024 

Language: Lithuanian and English or Russian

Criteria: Expertise in General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Knowledge of applicable laws and regulations regarding collection and use of personal data.

Additional Information: 

NGO Education and Heritage aims to strengthen the rights of the Muslim minority in Lithuania by offering comprehensive language and cultural training programs. Their programs are designed to cater to both adults and children, with a particular focus on low-income and unemployed individuals. Their current project includes weekend school sessions and an innovative online platform to foster cultural and religious understanding, thereby promoting intercultural dialogue. Emphasizing the importance of continuous education, they strive to create an inclusive environment where cultural diversity is respected.

The organization seeks legal assistance in developing a new GDPR-compliant policy that aligns with Lithuanian data protection standards, with a special focus on how to legally collect, use, and protect the personal data of their beneficiaries and employees, including minors. This necessity arises from the extensive gathering of varied personal data integral to the NGO’s mission, particularly in its work with minority groups.

NGO: Education and Heritage

Website: https://shorturl.at/RoLAE

Project: Assistance with drafting a comprehensive policy document on child protection

Jurisdiction: Lithuania

Legal Topics: Child Protection Laws and Regulations

Deadline: October 31, 2024 

Language: Lithuanian and English or Russian

Criteria: Proficiency in international and national standards pertaining to child protection, coupled with a deep understanding of the relevant laws and regulations governing children’s rights in Lithuania.

Additional Information: 

NGO Education and Heritage aims to strengthen the rights of the Muslim minority in Lithuania by offering comprehensive language and cultural training programs. Their programs are designed to cater to both adults and children, with a particular focus on low-income and unemployed individuals. Their current project includes weekend school sessions and an innovative online platform to foster cultural and religious understanding, thereby promoting intercultural dialogue. Emphasizing the importance of continuous education, they strive to create an inclusive environment where cultural diversity is respected.

The organization is seeking legal support to develop a comprehensive Child Protection Policy, with a specific focus on children from disadvantaged groups. This policy is intended to offer vital guidance to both internal staff and external partners on the sensitive and effective handling of children representing minority backgrounds. It should encompass safeguards, regulations, and procedures that include all facets of the organization’s activities, particularly those involving children. The policy is intended for the general and ongoing use of the NGO as a foundational framework for child protection practices.

NGO: Education and Heritage

Website: https://shorturl.at/RoLAE

Project: Assistance with understanding requirements and procedures to register an educational institution 

Jurisdiction: Lithuania

Legal Topics: Child Protection Laws and Regulations

Deadline: October 31, 2024 

Language: Lithuanian and English or Russian

Criteria: Knowledge of Lithuanian legislation and regulations on registration of NGOs as educational institutions.

Additional Information: 

NGO Education and Heritage aims to strengthen the rights of the Muslim minority in Lithuania by offering comprehensive language and cultural training programs. Their programs are designed to cater to both adults and children, with a particular focus on low-income and unemployed individuals. Their current project includes weekend school sessions and an innovative online platform to foster cultural and religious understanding, thereby promoting intercultural dialogue. Emphasizing the importance of continuous education, they strive to create an inclusive environment where cultural diversity is respected.

The NGO requires legal guidance to register as an educational institution for children and youth, with a specific focus on non-formal education initiatives. They aim to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and standards throughout the registration process. Assistance is needed to understand the requirements, ensure adherence to procedures, and navigate the steps involved in registering as an educational institution in Lithuania.

NGO: Živi Atelje DK

Website: http://www.ziviatelje.dk/ 

Project: Assistance with Understanding Legal Implications of Supporting Undocumented Individuals in Croatia

Jurisdiction: Croatia

Legal Topics: Immigration and Human Rights Law, Civil and Criminal Liabilities

Deadline: December 20, 2024

Language(s): English or Croatian

Criteria: Expertise in immigration and refugee law and Knowledge of civil and criminal procedural law 

Additional Information:

Živi Atelje DK (Living Atelier DK) is an independent, refugee-led organization using art to explore identity, foster healing, and build communities. By nurturing resilience, potential, and solidarity, the organization drives social change through artistic expression. It emphasizes active participation in activities such as Women to Women workshops and photography sessions. Led by individuals with lived experiences of displacement, Živi Atelje DK is dedicated to transformative community-building.

The NGO seeks legal assistance and training to understand the legal implications and potential liabilities of providing social support to individuals without legal status in Croatia. Specifically, they need advice on the potential legal liabilities associated with aiding undocumented individuals in various scenarios, such as providing goods, transportation, or other forms of support, as these actions may lead to criminal or civil penalties for the aid providers under Croatian law. Additionally, the organization requires guidance on the legal procedures and protections available when dealing with individuals who have been subjected to police pushbacks or abuse, including the appropriate channels for reporting human rights violations and ensuring compliance with Croatian and international law. The NGO has prepared a series of scenarios for which they are seeking legal support and advice on how to properly navigate and offer assistance while remaining in compliance with the Croatian legal framework.

NGO: Živi Atelje DK

Website: http://www.ziviatelje.dk/ 

Project: Assistance with understanding the legal intricacies of succession law 

Jurisdiction: Croatia

Legal Topics: Intellectual Property Law, Succession Law

Deadline: December 20, 2024

Language(s): English or Croatian

Criteria: Expertise in Intellectual Property law, Succession law and knowledge of applicable rules and regulations in Croatia

Additional Information:

Živi Atelje DK (Living Atelier DK) is an independent, non-profit organization using art to explore identity, foster healing, and build communities. By nurturing resilience, potential, and solidarity, the organization drives social change through artistic expression. It emphasizes active participation in activities such as Women to Women workshops and photography sessions. Led by individuals with lived experiences of displacement, Živi Atelje DK is dedicated to transformative community-building.

The NGO is seeking legal support to safeguard the artistic heritage of a deceased artist whose atelier the organization occupies. They are actively involved in preserving and exhibiting the artist’s collection through an open-access catalog. Their main concern is navigating legal complexities to protect the collection from unauthorized sale or reproduction, especially in situations where the NGO’s founders are no longer involved. This legal assistance is crucial for upholding the integrity and rights linked to the collection, in line with the NGO’s core mission.

NGO: PILnet

Website: https://www.pilnet.org

Project: Adapt and further develop a legal resilience assessment for minority rights NGOs in Europe

Jurisdiction: European Union (especially Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia)

Legal Topics: NGO Compliance, Governance, Tax Law, Employment Law, Registration, GDPR

Deadline: December, 2024 (flexible)

Language: English (possibly other local languages: Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia)

Criteria: NGO Compliance, Governance 

Additional Information: 

PILnet is a global non-governmental organization that creates opportunities for social change by unlocking the law’s full potential. With programs in Europe & Eurasia, Asia, and at the global level, PILnet aims to reclaim and reimagine the role of law so that it works for the benefit of all.

PILnet, together with partners, is implementing an EU-funded project to support local minority rights organisations in 13 EU countries in Eastern and South Eastern Europe. The key objective of PILnet’s role in this project is to strengthen the legal resilience of the 90 minority rights NGOs. PILnet assessed that all the organizations part of this initiative would highly benefit from undergoing a structured legal resilience assessment (or legal health check), which would allow the identification of major risks and eventually address them through its Global Clearinghouse mechanism.

After developing a legal resilience assessment (or Legal Health Check) in Hong Kong, PILnet is planning to use the same framework and replicate it for this project in Europe. This assessment aims to help CSOs identify the existing and potential legal issues and operational risks in their organization and create a plan to address them. The health check enables CSOs to be better prepared to respond to a rapidly changing environment, so they can become more resilient and focus their resources on achieving their core missions of serving the community.

Topics covered in the legal resilience assessment include areas such as organizational structure, governance, financial health, fundraising, and information technology and systems.

PILnet is looking for:

• A pro bono team(s) interested in adapting the material of the Hong Kong Legal Health Check to the European context. The materials to be adapted include a screening questionnaire, a supporting issues-spotting checklists, a reference list of relevant resources, a template table of a final report, and any additional documents to support the implementation of the assessment,
• A law firm(s) to implement the legal health check and assess a number of minority rights NGOs in Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia on an ongoing basis.

This project is suitable for multi-firm collaborations and in-house collaborations.

NGO: PILnet

Website: https://www.pilnet.org/

Project: Webinar/Workshop on GDPR for minority rights NGOs in Europe

Jurisdiction: Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia

Legal Topics: GDPR

Deadline: December, 2024 (flexible)

Language: Bulgarian, Croatian, EstonianDecember, 2024 (flexible),  Latvian, Lithuanian, Romanian,  Slovenian

Criteria: Expertise in GDPR

Additional Information: 

PILnet is a global non-governmental organization that creates opportunities for social change by unlocking the law’s full potential. With programs in Europe & Eurasia, Asia, and at the global level, PILnet aims to reclaim and reimagine the role of law so that it works for the benefit of all.

PILnet, together with partners, is implementing an EU-funded project to support local minority rights organisations in 13 EU countries in Eastern and South Eastern Europe. The key objective of PILnet’s role in this project is to strengthen the legal resilience of the 90 minority rights NGOs.

PILnet is seeking a highly qualified team of professionals with expertise in GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) to conduct specialized in-person or online training sessions for minority rights organizations from various jurisdictions operating in the European Union (specifically in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia).

The main objective of the workshop series is to empower minority rights organizations and equip them with the proper knowledge to comply with the provisions of GDPR. PILnet encourages interactive workshops which will enable a more dynamic learning environment for the participants enhanced with group discussions, equipped with training materials (such as fact sheets), bringing real-life cases to the participants to enhance their understanding of how GDPR

principles can be applied to the organizations’ everyday life. Cases will also make complex legal principles more understandable. The workshop should also focus on the protection of data coming from third parties as organizations receive and handle data from their beneficiaries, who often belong to vulnerable groups.