In this notebook you will learn how Elkarri, a group based in the Basque Region, has created a dialogue of social mediation that encourages participation on all levels of society.  Elkarri gives community members a choice over which part of the process they chose to particpate in, but they encourage particpation for all sides of the conflict.

Until a few years ago, there were no legal firms in Brazil that offered free services to people in need. The Pro-Bono Institute has created a new legal tradition in São Paolo, convincing major law firms to donate their legal services and connecting them with NGOs in need of legal services. The Institute has recruited about 140 lawyers and is offering a variety of free services to all kinds of NGOs, including support for important human rights cases.

The Centre for Victims of Torture (CVICT) in Nepal instituted a tactic to circumvent the problem of police abuse through a process of rights-based community mediation. The tactic trains local people as mediators and resources to their communities on basic laws and human rights. In addition, it has served as a vehicle to empower women to become community leaders by addressing their individual and collective needs.