From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Oxford Pro Bono Publico
Oxford Pro Bono Publico
Oxford Pro Bono Publico is a group of law post-graduate ther in their own countries where the business opera-
and Law Faculty members dedicated to the practice of tions and human rights abuse takes place or in the coun-
public interest law on a pro bono basis. Specifically, the tries in which the alleged offending transnational cor-
function of the OBPB is to assist in the preparation of re- poration is registered or incorporated. It considers these
search briefs, expert opinions, amicus curiae and policy obstacles in relation to 13 specific jurisdictions: Australia,
submissions, generally under the direction of practicing Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the European
solicitors and barristers who are themselves acting on a Union, France, Germany, India, Malaysia, the People’s
pro bono basis. Republic of China, Russia, South Africa, the United King-
Oxford Pro Bono Publico dom and the United States.
* Justice in Burma (April 2008)
Oxford University This report was prepared by Oxford Pro Bono Publico
President : Tolga R Yalkin for the Public International Law and Policy Group
(PILPG). It contributed towards the PILPG’s work in pro-
viding legal advice to the National Council for the Union
Overview of Burma (NCUB) to assist the NCUB in its efforts to sup-
The Oxford Faculty of Law established the Oxford Pro port the pro-democracy movement among the Burmese
Bono Publico to support and to foster pro bono legal re- populations inside and outside the country. In particular,
search and in support of academic lawyers, practition- this report considers what the law can offer the people
ers, and policy-makers. Over the last six years, OPBP has of Burma in light of their ongoing political repression. It
worked on a number of diverse, high-profile human seeks to answer this question by examining international
rights and public interests cases. These include providing law violations perpetrated by the State Peace and Devel-
an expert submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on opment Council (SPDC), the potential consequences of
Human Rights, Professor John Ruggie, on the ability to such violations and the international mechanisms avail-
hold transnational corporations for wrongs committed in able to provide justice and redress in response. In light
overseas jurisdictions, an expert opinion on the legality of current negotiations for democratic transition, the re-
of the Israeli separation barrier, investigation into the le- port also considers potential options for transitional jus-
gal status of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, and re- tice to deal with past human rights abuse.
search on the treatment of homosexuals in the US mili- * David Hicks (Guantanamo Bay Detainee) Case (Oct.
tary for litigation in the US federal courts. Most recently 2006 - March 2007)
OPBP has recently drafted a submission to the Committee Oxford Pro Bono Publico provided assistance to Major
considering the Australian Charter of Human Rights, un- Michael D. Mori, the military lawyer representing David
der the guidance of Lord Bingham of Cornhill. OPBP’s ex- Hicks who was the first Guantanamo Bay Detainee to be
ecutive committee comprises a President and four Grad- charged before the Military Commissions created by the
uate Executive Committee Members, assisted by three US Military Commissions Act 2006. OPBP prepared three
Faculty Members. The 2008–9 President of OPBP is Tolga memos dealing with (i) the indispensable judicial guar-
R Yalkin, a MPhil candidate at Wadham College, Oxford, antees referred to in Common Art 3 of the Geneva Con-
whose research focuses on the international minimum ventions of 1949; (ii) the extent to which the European
standard in international law and international invest- Convention on Human Rights may be relied on challeng-
ment law and human rights. ing the revocation of Hicks’ UK Nationality and (iii) a US
Court of Appeals decision holding that the Military Com-
missions Act stripped federal courts of jurisdiction over
Topics of recent reports habeas corpus and other claims brought by Guantanamo
* Obstacles to Justice and Redress for Victims of Corpo- detainees.
rate Human Rights Abuse (November 2008) * The Justice Project (January 2006)
OPBP prepared this submission to inform the man- The report evaluates the adequacy of the UK position
date of Professor John Ruggie, the Special Representative on intercept communication through a comparative
of the United Nations’ Secretary-General on business and analysis of the use of intercept evidence in four juris-
human rights. It explores the obstacles victims of corpo- dictions namely New York (USA), Canada, South Africa,
rate human rights abuse face in accessing justice and ob- and Israel. The opinion examines the different legislative
taining remediation through domestic legal systems ei- arrangements concerning intercept communication. In
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Oxford Pro Bono Publico
particular, the research focuses on the following ques- prosecution and victim protection. To determine its ad-
tions: the circumstances in which interception of com- equacy, the legislation in force in each of these areas is
munication is allowed; the admissibility of such evidence compared to binding and non-binding international in-
in court proceedings; whether the admissibility of evi- struments. The analysis points to a lack of coherent pol-
dence depends on the legality of the interception of com- icy and law on trafficking in the UK legislation. Espe-
munication; means available to allow the defendant ac- cially problematic is the non-existent legislation for pro-
cess to intercepted evidence at trial; and means available tection of victims of trafficking. The recommendation of
to protect the informants, police and secret methods. this opinion is that the UK should either sign and ratify
* Submission for Joint Committee for Human Rights the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Traf-
Call for Evidence in New Inquiry into Human Trafficking. ficking in Human Beings or adopt similar domestic leg-
(January 2006) islation, which would resolve many of the problems that
The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has de- now arise in the UK.
cided to conduct an inquiry into the human rights of peo-
ple trafficked into the United Kingdom. OPBP submitted
an opinion to the Committee in January, evaluating the
External links
adequacy of UK laws on human trafficking. The opinion Oxford Pro Bono Publico Website
analyses the legislation in three relevant areas: prohibi- (http://www.law.ox.ac.uk/opbp/index.shtml)
tion of human trafficking, prevention, investigation and
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Categories:
• Clubs and societies of the University of Oxford
• Legal organisations in England and Wales
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