UGlobe’s CEL Platform on Conflict & Security provides legal assistance to societal partners

Students from this year’s Public International Law (PIL) Legal Clinic have been providing legal assistance to UGlobe’s societal partners Airwars and the Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG).

The Public International Law (PIL) Legal Clinic is part of the LL.M. Honours Programme of Utrecht University School of Law and provides legal work in the field of public international law to a variety of clients. The programme enables students to advance their analytical and research skills by providing legal work for real clients. Along with other community engaged learning (CEL) projects across the university on issues of conflict and security, this project is taking part in UGlobe’s CEL Platform.

Throughout the process, the students are continuously encouraged and guided in their work by Professor Dr. Brianne McGonigle Leyh. This year’s Legal Clinic team is comprised of Fabienne Ufert, Pete Whitton, Jussara Paimann Millán, Sophie Morris, and Vangjel Gjorgjiev. They have been providing legal assistance to UGlobe’s societal partners Airwars and the Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG).

Child soldiers

Airwars is an NGO monitoring civilian casualties caused by ‘airpower-dominated military actions’ with the aim of increasing transparency and accountability. The project for Airwars tackles the lawfulness of targeting and killing child soldiers under international law. The work process included an initial client debrief, extensive research and analysis, writing and refining drafts, expert and peer review of the work, and completion of the final product. The main outcome of the project is a memorandum with a detailed legal analysis on the issue at hand, specifically tailored to non-legal personnel.

Juba Peace Agreement

PILPG is a global pro bono law firm that provides free legal assistance to parties involved in peace negotiations, drafting post-conflict constitutions, war crimes prosecution, and broader transitional justice processes. PILPG is actively engaged in the transitional period in Sudan through the creation and implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement. As a result, the project for PILPG consists of compiling best comparative practices of truth commissions’ terms of reference. Similar to the project for Airwars, the process included a client debrief, extensive research and analysis, weekly draft submissions, as well as peer review and completion of the final product. The main outcome consists of a comprehensive analysis on core elements in the form of a memorandum and a toolkit on best practice recommendations.

The various projects of UGlobe’s CEL programme will be organizing an impact event in late May to highlight the work of the societal partners.