History of ACLJ Global Outreach
The American Center for Law and Justice is truly a global organization.
What began as a commitment to defend religious and constitutional freedoms in the United States has blossomed into an expanding global outreach in more than 35 countries around the world.
Not long after the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) became one of the preeminent constitutional law firms in America, ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow turned to his past to launch a far-reaching and influential effort aimed at protecting religious liberty and safeguarding human rights and dignity around the world.
The grandson of a Russian immigrant, Sekulow knew first-hand about religious persecution. His grandfather fled Russia in 1914 seeking a new home and new freedoms in America. He was one of many family members who made the United States home. “While my family has experienced the blessings of liberty in so many ways in this country,” Sekulow said, “I cannot forget the fact that my family left a life of persecution.”
It is that passion for freedom that led Sekulow to launch a global outreach that began nearly a decade ago and continues to grow in countries around the world. Inspired by the vision of ACLJ founder Dr. Pat Robertson whose lifelong evangelism and humanitarian work touches the lives of millions around the world, Sekulow began to look at the legal landscape globally. In 1995, Sekulow met with Dr. Bill Bright – the late founder of Campus Crusade for Christ who also shared a love for worldwide evangelism. Sekulow said Dr. Bright’s insight and encouragement confirmed what he already knew – it was time to implement a global strategy.
The establishment of several affiliated organizations soon followed. Sekulow created the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) located in Strasbourg, France and home to the European Court of Human Rights. It’s the perfect setting for law students to train in international human rights law, anti-terrorism/national security law and religious liberty law. Each year, nearly 50 students from around the world – including countries like South Korea and the African nation of Cameroon – attend special classes and programs in Strasbourg. Education is the cornerstone of the global outreach with the ECLJ recently telling the Christian Science Monitor that the organization is “preparing the next generation of Christian lawyers to work on a global level.”
Also in 1998, Sekulow launched the Slavic Center for Law and Justice (SCLJ) – headquartered in Moscow, Russia – which focuses on religious liberty cases from across the former Soviet Union. In a nation where religious persecution is still a troubling reality, the SCLJ works to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights approved by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1948 which states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”
It’s the kind of legal work that takes time and an ongoing commitment. When the ACLJ’s global outreach began, Sekulow told the well respected ABA (American Bar Association) Journal in a 1998 interview that “we’re prepared for the long haul.” That persistence has paid off.
The work of the ACLJ’s affiliated organizations and its global network of attorneys has stretched across more than 35 countries. And there’s a growing track record of success. Among the many legal victories, a lengthy legal battle in Russia resulted in success for the operation of the Salvation Army. In one European country, attorneys cleared the way for Christians to share the Gospel. And in the Middle East, there is ongoing efforts focusing on religious liberty.
In an effort to enhance its global outreach, Sekulow directed the ECLJ to apply for non-governmental organization status at the UN. In 2007, the UN granted the ECLJ this special consultative status that gives the ECLJ a powerful voice with the world’s decision-makers. The UN status enables the ECLJ to file legal briefs and analyses with UN governing bodies on a wide range of global issues. The recognition also gives the ECLJ the authority to confer with UN-member states.
The ACLJ and its worldwide affiliated organizations deeply believe that freedom and liberty are universal, God-given, inalienable rights that must be protected. To that end, the ACLJ and its affiliated organizations are dedicated to its global mission – to protect religious liberty and safeguard human rights and dignity – around the world.
Following below is a list of countries where the ACLJ is active:
 Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Aruba
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cypress
Czech Republic
Denmark
France
Germany
Greece
India
Iran
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Ireland
Israel
Italy
Malta
Moldovia
Nigeria
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
The Netherlands
Turkey
Ukraine
Uzbekistan |