STRATEGIC LITIGATION THE ROLE OF NGOs Margarita Ilieva

STRATEGIC LITIGATION THE ROLE OF NGOs Margarita Ilieva, 17 -18 December 2005, London

NGO Roles: Identify cases Service cases Publicise results Further change

Case Identification Situational testing Enable existing complaints channels – local groups – community centres – trade unions

Case Identification (2) Set up community complaint points – NGO staffed – community activists – law student staffed Conduct field visits Process written complaints/ keep consultation hours

Case Servicing Secure lawyer – lawyer network jointly wi/ Bar Association – in-house lawyer – legal clinic jointly wi/ University – refer to others

Case Servicing (2) Secure proof – testing – data collection fact-finding surveys statistics – prepare witnesses/ clients

Case Servicing (3) Support client – empower – respect – protect from victimisation (lawyer as well)

Case Servicing (4) Support cause – amicus briefs, questionnaires – court experts – civil networks – involve journalists – train judges – train lawyers – get international support

Case Servicing (5) Settle – extended remedies – involve discriminators – engage public

Results Publicising Media coverage Publications Databases Community seminars

Furthering Change Initiate legislative/ policy reform – post-litigation – preventive Publicise