Aurora Bewicke
Aurora Bewicke is a human rights consultant and US qualified attorney with expertise in strengthening access to justice, the rule of law, the rights of the accused, and the rights of marginalized populations. Her work also focuses on balancing victims’ rights, post-conflict reparations, and cultural heritage protection.
As International Bridges to Justice’s Country Director in China for seven years, Bewicke led and managed a portfolio of projects designed to reduce torture and protect the rights of the accused, directing a three-office country team, organizing trainings, and implementing pilot projects in collaboration with local stakeholders on a country-wide level.
Working with International Bridges to Justice, again, in Myanmar, as Acting Country Director during the project start-up phase, Bewicke set up multiple legal aid offices, hired and trained local staff, organized two nation-level trainings, formed local partnerships, and put the systems in place to jump-start a functioning legal aid system that continues to support individuals today.
In Eritrea, in the former Yugoslavia, and in the Hague, Bewicke has appeared before international, post-conflict tribunals to ensure individuals’ legal rights were recognized. As a U.S. lawyer, Bewicke has defended the rights of hundreds of individuals in criminal defense, immigration, family law, and domestic violence proceedings. Through her non-profit work, Bewicke has extensive experience in grant-making, partnership development, monitoring and evaluation, strategic project development, needs assessments, and budgetary oversight.
Bewicke has published a number of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on the rights of victims, the rights of the accused, access to justice, gender equality, and the intersection of law and cultural rights.