Driven by a cause that's greater than ourselves
“Mindful that during this century millions of children, women and men have been victims of unimaginable atrocities that deeply shock the conscience of humanity.”
Rome Statute, ICC
Lorraine Smith van Lin
Lorraine is a consultant, trainer, advocate and speaker advocating for just laws, policies and systems for victims of crime and working to end violence against women. Lorraine’s vision is a world in which the rights of victims, survivors and women are fully respected and enforced.
As an international human rights lawyer, my passion is to advocate for the rights of women, children and victims of crime. I have over two decades of professional experience in multiple roles as a former Prosecutor and Resident Magistrate in the Jamaican Courts, Director of the International Bar Association’s International Criminal Court Programme, Senior Legal Adviser with REDRESS, and consultant with international organizations. My expertise has taken me from the courtroom to the field. I have written reports and spoken in conferences, provided legal analysis and advice and managed projects.
Much of my international experience has been focused on the work of the ICC, and its innovative Rome Statute which grants victims participatory rights and reparations. I have moved beyond the Hague to directly engage with victims, survivor communities, human rights defenders and advocates in Uganda, Kenya and other conflict zones which deepened my commitment to victims and their issues. In the process, I gained significant experience organising victims’ forums, field-based programmes with grass-roots organisations and small NGO’s in the Global South.
Tallawah Justice
In March 2021, I founded Tallawah Justice for Women, a non-profit organization that connects, equips and amplifies the voices of women survivors and leaders from grassroots and community organizations in the Global South.