ILAC never makes an assessment mission uninvited. Working closely with the host government and/or the United Nations (UN) (where the UN has a mission) is crucial.
ILAC provides an expert team to make an initial assessment of what is needed to begin rebuilding a workable justice system. ILAC reports are provided to the national government (where one exists), to the UN, other inter-government organisations, donor governments and NGOs, including ILACs member organisations, as a basis for further action. ILAC actively promotes and assists with the coordination of the implementation of its report.
ILAC selects assessment teams from the member organisations based on the skills and languages required for a specific mission. The team will visit the country for approx. two weeks, consult with politicians, representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the judiciary, prosecution, police, the Bar, and the wider legal community. It is also necessary to build cooperation with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs). In an environment where public mechanisms have collapsed or are ineffective, it is particularly important to engage such groups. Assistance providers generally benefit from local NGOs’ knowledge of the indigenous culture, which can help to avoid misunderstandings. Building confidence at the grassroots is equally critical.
It is equally important to map out and talk to international actors already involved in the country.
ILAC is committed to the principles of impartiality and respect for local legal traditions; ILAC’s assistance is, whenever possible, undertaken with the co-operation of the national government but ILAC is committed to independence from political influence.
ILAC is committed to always apply a gender perspective in our assessments and projects. It means that we actively try to investigate if the present justice system works equally for men and women as well as trying to foresee how different programs and projects for reforming the sector will effect men and women respectively. In our gender justice program the main aims are to promote women’s access to, and participation in, the justice sector in the different countries.