The Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice

Vance Center News

Vance Center publishes report, "A Partnership Between Africa and Latin America to Promote Access to Justice" (12/14/09)

Latin Lawyer Online - "Vance Center Promotes PBDA Implementation in Peru," November 19th, 2009

Directions 2010 - End of year updates from the Vance Center

Vance Center Overview

The Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice of the New York City Bar seeks to expand access to justice in young democracies and developing economies. We work with partners around the world, including law firms, bar associations and law societies, educational institutions, and nongovernmental organizations, building bridges among them so that they can share ideas and collaborate across borders as they strive to promote social justice.

The Center’s ongoing work includes:

Supporting lawyers seeking to provide pro bono legal services to underrepresented and underserved individuals and the organizations that represent them.
Recruiting volunteer lawyers to work on international public interest projects referred to the Vance Center by community based organizations, not-for-profit institutions, and non-governmental organizations working in young democracies and developing economies.
Building VanceNet.org, a web-based, global community of advocates for access to justice.
Creating a network of justice reform advocates in Africa and Latin America to enable them to share information and ideas and collaborate on projects.
Promoting social responsibility in the international legal profession by increasing its diversity.

The Center was founded in 2003 to honor the memory of Cyrus R. Vance, a past president of the New York City Bar and former U.S. Secretary of State and gives continuing substance to his conviction that lawyers have an ethical obligation to play an active role in the promotion of peace, democracy, and social justice.

In all of its activities the Center draws on the members, committees, and other resources of the New York City Bar and its affiliate the City Bar Justice Center. The Vance Center also works closely with various law firms in New York City and elsewhere in the United States. The assistance provided by those law firms has been invaluable.

Read more about the Vance Center's achievements:

Highlights 2005 (PDF)

Highlights 2006 (PDF)

Highlights 2007 (PDF)

Highlights 2008 (PDF)

Where We Work

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Vance Center News

Vance Center partners with CAD in Peru to launch proposed Rules of Professional Conduct and Pro Bono Clearinghouse

Latin Lawyer publishes top 50 pro bono rankings

ADC creates information portal on Inter-American System on Human Rights.

Vance Center publishes Pro Bono Implementation Guide for Latin American Signatories of the PBDA.

Vance Center launches online community - register now!
Read more on VanceNet

Vance Center helps launch
Pro Bono Foundation in Bogotá.

Women in the Profession Conference held in São Paulo.