Public International Law & Policy Group

Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG)
Founded 1995 in London, United Kingdom
Type Non-profit
NGO
Location
  • Global
    Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Fields Peace Negotiations, Post-Conflict Constitutions, War Crimes Prosecution
Key people
 Paul R. Williams (President)
Michael Scharf (Managing Director)
Website www.pilpg.org

The Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG) is a non-profit organization, operating as a global pro bono law firm providing free legal assistance to developing states and sub-state entities involved in conflicts. To facilitate the utilization of this legal assistance, PILPG also provides policy formulation advice and training on matters related to conflict resolution. To date, PILPG has advised over two dozen states and governments on the legal aspects of peace negotiations and post-conflict constitution drafting, and over two dozen states and War Crimes Tribunals in Europe, Asia and Africa concerning the protection of human rights, self-determination, and the prosecution of war crimes.

PILPG promotes the utilization of international law as an alternative to violent conflict or other destabilizing means for resolving international disputes. To accomplish this objective, PILPG provides legal counsel to states during peace negotiations, advises on the creation and operation of tribunals for the prosecution of war crimes, assists states with drafting constitutions, runs negotiation simulations, publishes field reports concerning ongoing or potential conflicts, and convenes expert roundtables to identify points of conflict and potential solutions.[1]

The three primary practice areas of PILPG are Peacebuilding, International Justice, Post-Conflict Political Development and Public International Law. To provide pro bono legal advice and policy formulation expertise, PILPG primarily relies on work done by students at the Washington College of Law and School of International Service at American University , as well as on volunteer legal assistance from more than sixty former international lawyers, diplomats, and foreign relations experts, as well as pro bono assistance from major international law firms.

Because of its diverse network of volunteers, PILPG is able to maintain volunteer points of contact in London, Paris, New York, Washington, D.C., Cleveland, Boston, Rome, The Hague, Stockholm, Brussels, Kabul, Nairobi, and Seattle. From 1996 to 1998, PILPG operated under the auspices of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. In July 1999, the United Nations granted official Non-Governmental Organization status to PILPG.[2]

Primary practice areas[3]

Peace negotiations

PILPG is frequently called upon to provide legal and political counsel to parties and mediators engaged in peace negotiations. PILPG works closely with clients to clarify and prioritize goals, develop negotiation strategies, and create effective mechanisms for implementing peace agreements. PILPG members customarily participate as advisors during negotiations, and PILPG frequently opens in-country program offices to support its peace negotiations work. To date, PILPG has advised participants in over two dozen international peace negotiations.

Post-conflict constitutions

PILPG contributes legal assistance and political counsel to parties involved in drafting and implementing post-conflict constitutions. PILPG works closely with clients to translate political agreements into effective constitutional provisions. PILPG frequently opens offices in-country to support its post-conflict constitution work and has assisted over a dozen states and governments in drafting and implementing post-conflict constitutions.

Policy planning

PILPG provides policy planning assistance to states and governments to help them develop and implement foreign and domestic policy initiatives, design state institutions, engage in strategic planning, and coordinate multistate partnerships. PILPG uses consulting and pro bono services of over 200 former U.S. and foreign diplomats and legal advisers. PILPG provides policy planning assistance to support clients engaged in negotiating ceasefire agreements. Through negotiation simulations and other activities, PILPG assists clients in developing goals and strategies to pursue a cessation of hostilities and sustained peace. PILPG also provides policy planning assistance on the issue of piracy, giving legal and policy advice to domestic, regional, and international counter-piracy mechanisms, with the goal of helping to create effective responses to the growing piracy threat. To date, PILPG has provided policy planning assistance to over two dozen transitioning states and governments.

War crimes prosecution

War crimes trials have become a critically important component of nation building. PILPG’s War Crimes Practice Area was established in 1996, with an agreement between Richard Goldstone and PILPG to provide research assistance to the International Prosecutor on issues pending before the Yugoslavia Tribunal. The War Crimes Practice Group has significantly expanded to currently provide research assistance to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Iraqi Special Tribunal, and the International Criminal Court. PILPG advises these tribunals on the entire spectrum of issues pertaining to war crimes prosecution.

Water Diplomacy

PILPG provides legal assistance to states, government officials, and key stakeholders involved in water conflicts. PILPG’s approach promotes peaceful resolution of water disputes in accordance with international law. To promote the peaceful resolution of water disputes, PILPG also has developed a series of negotiation simulations, and convened a number of policy planning roundtables.

Democracy and governance

PILPG has given policy analysis and legal assistance to states and sub-state entities on matters aimed at strengthening the rule of law and promoting effective governance. PILPG has advised numerous states and governments on a wide range of issues, including issues relating to formation of effective and accountable governance mechanisms, enactment of fair and legitimate laws, enhanced civil society involvement in public policy making, protection of human and minority rights, security, and environmental protection and shared natural resources. PILPG has dealt with nationality and citizenship, children's rights, due process protections, implementation of international standards, and rule of law issues.

Managing Board [4]


References

  1. ↑ "Knowledge Management". Public International Law & Policy Group.
  2. ↑ "About". Public International Law & Policy Group.
  3. ↑ "Practice Areas". Public International Law & Policy Group.
  4. ↑ http://publicinternationallawandpolicygroup.org/about/staff/
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