Lawyers on mission to hot-spots

Representatives of legal, human rights and aid organisations around the world this week backed an initiative to help war-torn countries reassert the rule of law.

A conference in Stockholm organised by the International Bar Association and the American Bar Association approved work to form the International Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC).

This will establish a panel of lawyers to go into areas such as Kosovo and East Timor to make an initial assessment of the steps needed to reconstruct the administration of justice (see [2000] Gazette, 20 July, 8).

ILAC, which will be based in London, will also seek to introduce systems of accountability for those who work on the reconstruction of war-torn countries, something the lawyers say is largely lacking at the moment.

The idea of ILAC is to help co-ordinate non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are involved in reconstruction projects.

Last year, there were 273 NGOs registered as working in Kosovo.

Mel James, the Law Society's representative at the conference, said the problem with overlap between NGOs in post-conflict situations 'is an absolute nightmare'.

She welcomed the thrust of ILAC: 'It may be a way solicitors can get involved and use their professional skills in some horrific situations.' IBA executive director Paul Hoddinott said there had been strong support for the assessment side of ILAC's work.

However, there was less for the accountability aspect as the likes of Amnesty (which was at the conference) already undertake that kind of work, while governments might oppose it, possibly undermining the assessments.

The conference approved the creation of a provisional governing board which would form ILAC ahead of a general meeting to approve its constitution next summer.

A recent report on UN peacekeeping operations recommended a 'doctrinal shift' in peace operations 'to reflect an increased focus on strengthening rule of law institutions and improving respect for human rights in post-conflict environments'.

Neil Rose