Introduction

In July 2009, the ILF began developing a project in the West Bank at the request of the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS), a civilian mission to rebuild the police force and advise on criminal justice matters in the West Bank and Gaza. Subsequently, in September 2010, the ILF’s executive director, supported by one Palestinian lawyer, two Palestinian lawyers in training, and an indispensable interpreter/administrator, opened the first ILF-West Bank office in Ramallah. The mandate of the project, as in other countries in which the ILF works, is to assist in the set up of a quality, cost-effective public defender system. As a first step toward this goal, the ILF studied the criminal laws and practices through the day-to-day representation of indigent persons — men, women and children accused of crimes under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian civilian court system.

ILF-West Bank’s Work

Within the first few weeks of ILF’s arrival, it became clear that the law does not back many of the practices of Palestinian authorities. For example, in the West Bank, only female lawyers are allowed to visit women in detention. Given the lack of women practicing criminal defense, female detainees are rarely visited or represented by counsel early in the criminal process. Additionally, the detention centers require juvenile to have the signature of a parent to be allowed to have access to counsel. This practice, unsupported by statute, often leads to the arbitrary and prolonged detention of children. ILF-West Bank successfully challenged the unfounded parental consent requirement and now, juveniles over 16 are free to sign their own contract for free legal services. Today, ILF-West Bank has three Palestinian lawyers, two trainees, one International Fellow and two support staff. It has already represented more than 50 accused.