Introduction project board of PILP

The project board gives solicited and unsolicited advice to the Public Interest Litigation Project (PILP). It is comprised of prominent experts with various backgrounds: academics, lawyers, journalists and people from civil society. The board members have a strong commitment to the protection of human rights in The Netherlands.

The project board is comprised of:

Advisors of PILP

  • Prof. mr. Tom Barkhuysen, University of Leiden, Stibbe
  • Prof. dr. A.F.M. Brenninkmeijer, Professor Institutional aspects of the rule of law, University of Utrecht
  • Em. prof. mr. Jenny Goldschmidt, Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM), University of Utrecht
  • Dr. Jeff Handmaker, Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University Rotterdam
  • Mr. Nani Jansen, Legal Director of the Media Legal Defence Initiative and attorney
  • Mr. Folkert Jensma, NRC Handelsblad

Executive board of PILP

  • Mr. dr. Marloes van Noorloos, chair NJCM
  • Mr. dr. Eva Rieter, Radboud University, Senior Researcher & Assistant Professor International Human Rights Law/Public International Law
  • Mr. Herman Veerbeek, treasurer and board member NJCM

Composition

The project board consists of a maximum number of nine persons. It is comprised of both executive and non-executive members, and was established by the Dutch Section of the International Commission of Jurists (NJCM), the initiator of PILP.

Executive Board

The executive members (executive project board members) are representatives of the board of NJCM. The executive board, together with the executive director of NJCM (mr. Franka Olujić) are responsible for the management of PILP. They are all concerned with shaping the project and are in direct contact with each other and the project coordinator (mr. Jelle Klaas). The executive project board members are accountable to the board of NJCM.

Advisors

The non-executive members (non-executive project board members) have the function of a sounding board for PILP. Their main task is to assist the project coordinator and the executive board in making deliberative considerations in selecting cases (the ‘adopted cases’). Next to this essential role in the decision-making process, the advisors are free to give unsolicited advice about any other question related to the project. They take part of the project board in a personal capacity.

Cases

Usually the project coordinator or the executive board of PILP will identify potential cases. However, third parties, whether civil society organizations or civilians, can also suggest new cases. The project coordinator (in close connection with the board) will thereafter, inquire whether the proposed case concerns one or more human rights violations and whether it is suitable for strategic litigation. He will develop a more detailed record of the potential case before submitting it to the board. After the adoption of the case, the board will continue to be informed of the development of the case and, where necessary, be asked to give further guidance.