EWMI is supporting the Wrongful Conviction International Law Task Force (WCILTF), a global coalition of law professors, attorneys, and activists working together to fill the “Innocence Gap” in international law. Wrongful convictions occur in all legal systems around the world because of human limitations in investigation and evidence collection, and the WCITLF works to ensure that those wrongfully convicted have legal recourse to present new evidence of innocence and obtain exoneration.

EWMI is supporting two important initiatives of the task force:

Engagement with UN human rights mechanisms: Over the past few years, the WCILTF has started submitting country reports to the UN Human Rights Committee in conjunction with the Committee’s review of countries’ adherence to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). WCITLF submissions focus on how the laws and practices of the country under review contribute to wrongful convictions and whether they allow for exonerations. EWMI has assumed the coordinating role for the WCITLF’s submissions to the Committee, with assistance from U.S. law students and legal experts around the world. EWMI will also seek to expand the WCITLF’s engagement to include the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process conducted by the Human Rights Council. Under the UPR, EWMI will seek to target countries with the death penalty, as the lack of post-conviction innocence mechanisms in such countries is particularly problematic. To this end, EWMI will work with the WCILTF to develop UPR factsheets and conduct advocacy in Geneva with representatives of HRC member states. EWMI will also seek to host side events at UN events to raise awareness about wrongful convictions.

Wrongful Convictions Index: EWMI is coordinating the effort by the WCILTF to create an international index that would monitor and score countries in terms of their ability to prevent and address wrongful convictions. For example, countries would be rated and ranked on the degree to which they allow new evidence of innocence to be presented to a court post-conviction, ensure access to DNA testing, maintain evidence preservation procedures, and provide compensation for exonerees. The Wrongful Conviction Index will be used as an advocacy tool to promote reforms in countries with inadequate legislative frameworks.

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Support the project

EWMI is raising funds to support the EWMI team’s work with the Task Force, including the convening of side events around UN ICCPR and UPR meetings and research, development, and maintenance of the Wrongful Convictions Index. 

You can make a secure donation through the form below or by visiting our GiveLively campaign page. If you prefer to send your donation by mail, checks should be made out to the East-West Management Institute, Inc. (indicate “Wrongful Convictions” in the memo line) and mailed to: East-West Management Institute, 909 Third Avenue, Unit 1167, New York, NY 10022.