Human
Rights Program
PILPG
has been actively involved in various aspects of Human Rights issues
around the world. Within this program, the Group provides advice
to clients about the international standards and norms for human
rights protections. PILPG also provides advice on creating programs
which will provide protections that are consistent with these requirements.
The major issues within the Human Rights field that PILPG has dealt
with include nationality and citizenship, children's rights, due
process protections, implementation of international standards,
and rule of law issues.
Nationality
and Citizenship
Estonia’s
Russian Minority: The Group provided legal advice to the Government
of Estonia concerning international standards relating to nationality,
citizenship and the protection of national minority rights for Russians
and others living in Estonia.
Estonia’s
Immigration Regime: The Group advised the Government of Estonia
as to the consistency of its draft asylum law and immigration law
with basic principles of public international law and the 1951 UN
Convention on Refugees.
Children
Rights
of the Child: The Group reviewed existing Estonian laws on citizenship
and on aliens to determine whether they were consistent with general
principles of international law, various international agreements
relating specifically to the rights of children, European state
practice, and the guidelines set by the OSCE High Commissioner on
National Minorities.
Due
Process Protections
Due
Process and Counter-Drug Operations in South Africa: The Group advised
the Parliament of South Africa on a series of international law
questions relating to due process, human rights protections and
narcotics trafficking with respect to the rights and obligations
of South Africa under the 1988 Vienna Convention on Illicit Traffic
in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
Implementing
Human Rights Norms
General
Human Rights: In conjunction with Cornell Law School, the Group
drafted a series of legal memorandums for the OSCE, Republic of
Estonia, and European Commission on matters relating to the implementation
of human rights norms, and innovative means for enforcing those
norms.
Somalia: The
Group provided preliminary legal assistance to women’s groups
representing Somali women subjected to atrocities during the Somali
civil conflict.
Rule
of Law
International
Legal Assistance Consortium: Under the leadership of the International
Bar Association the Group participated with a select group of other
organizations in creating the International Legal Assistance Consortium
which is designed to provide experts to countries on a speedy basis
who would make assessments and recommendations on accountability
and rule of law issues in the aftermath of conflict or transition.
Publications
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