July.27.2012
A team is working with the Public International Law and Policy Group (“PILPG”) to assist our client in providing pro bono legal and policy assistance to Yemeni civil society organizations and activists on the creation of a transparent, inclusive new constitution that supports democratic institutions, enshrines the rule of law, protects human rights, and promotes sustainable development, security, and peace.
Since November 2011, PILPG has assisted Yemen’s Democratic Awakening Movement, Center for Research and Strategic Studies, activists, youth, and political analysts on security sector reform, transitional justice, anti-corruption and accountability mechanisms, creating an independent judiciary, and rule of law issues, as well advised on the National Dialogue and constitution-drafting processes. In addition to Yemen’s security challenges, the government’s reputation for corruption and nepotism create significant concern for future accountability and oversight of Yemen’s governing institutions.
To assist PILPG’s clients in understanding the critical components of a state respectful of the rule of law, the Orrick team will prepare a core elements memorandum on creating accountability in the government, with a focus on the role of the judiciary. The memo will analyze the ways other post-conflict countries addressed and confronted major themes, principles, and best practices that ensure public officials and other individuals that operate within the state institutions of government are held accountable for violating the law, as well as how the judiciary can hold other governmental actors accountable—through both horizontal and vertical accountability mechanisms. The team consists of Washington, D.C. litigation associates Inessa Mirkin and Brooke Daley, all supervised by Washington D.C. restructuring partner Roger Frankel.