The International Development Initiative works across several key areas in support of development goals in Democracy, Rights and Governance (DRG). Mobilizing ASU faculty experts in criminology, law, journalism and more, we work to promote safer, more prosperous societies grounded in the rule of law. ASU’s work in DRG includes:

Strengthening the justice sector by enhancing the capacity and independence of judicial institutions, promoting the rule of law and ensuring access to justice for all citizens. This includes partnering with local governments to improve legal systems through training for prosecutors, advocates and other justice sector professionals, strengthening university-based law programs and legal training, and supporting in-country legal clinics in collaboration with community partners.

In parallel, ASU advances community-driven and evidence-based approaches to crime prevention, recognizing that crime is both a cause and consequence of broader social, economic and political challenges. Working with local partners, the initiative addresses root causes of crime, supports diversion and services for high-risk populations and fosters social and familial cohesion to prevent crime and support rehabilitation. The initiative also prioritizes eliminating violence against women, children and families, recognizing that increasing both safety and perceptions of safety is essential to strong, stable societies. Through comprehensive, community and systems-level approaches, ASU builds local capacity to prevent violence, protect vulnerable populations, strengthen prosecution and accountability for perpetrators and expand services and opportunities for survivors.

Complementing these efforts, ASU supports the role of media and journalism as pillars of accountability, transparency and freedom of expression by working with in-country journalists and higher education institutions. This includes training journalists and educators, developing communication strategies to help communities identify misinformation and disinformation, and strengthening independent local journalism organizations to promote safer, more democratic societies.