THE PRO BONO NETWORK OF THE AMERICAS was born in 2011 as an informal collaborative mechanism between lawyers, NGOs, pro bono initiatives and other actors in the pro bono field across the Americas to strengthen access to justice, promote respect for human rights, and uphold the rule of law and democracy. It has now become the main institutional home of the primary pro bono clearinghouses in the region, representing partnership among them. Today, the Network includes more than 20 organizations, representing 16 countries, and continues to grow. It is coordinated and co-managed by the Vance Center and Fundación Pro Bono Chile, and also has an Executive Committee, which meets on a monthly basis to discuss common concerns and exchange best practices on pro bono practice. For instance, in 2016, we:
Formalized the Network’s status and procedures
Created an intake form for potential new members and strategic allies
Developed pro bono referral form to conduct international pro bono projects among the Network members
Supported pro bono advocacy efforts in countries such as Venezuela and Paraguay
Established committees on the exchange of best practices, effective communications and the measurement of pro bono work
Drafted the first annual report of the Network, which you can access here.
For more information on the Network, visit its website here.
PBDA
More than a decade ago, the Vance Center and several partners in Latin America launched a campaign called the Pro Bono Declaration of the Americas. This short statement commits signatory law firms and other legal organizations to undertake annually an average of at least 20 hours of pro bono work for each attorney working there. Today, the declaration has more than 570 signatories, spanning 21 countries and representing more than 15,000 lawyers committing to a total of least 300,000 hours of pro bono work each year.
