PIL in Northern Ireland
A number of organisations in Northern Ireland are involved in public interest law. These include:
> Committee on the Administration of Justice
The PILS Project
The PILS (Public Interest Litigation Support) Project is an independent organisation established in May 2009 which seeks to advance human rights and equality in Northern Ireland through the use of and support for public interest litigation. Public interest litigation is defined as the use of litigation or legal action which seeks to advance the cause of minority or disadvantaged groups or individuals, or which raises issues of broad public concern.
Aims:
- Enhance awareness of public interest litigation and facilitate communication between non governmental organisations working in this area through the PILS Project Stakeholder Forum and other awareness raising activities;
- Provide financial and/or legal support to public interest cases which meet the PILS Project case criteria;
- Work with the legal profession to increase levels of pro bono activity in Northern Ireland;
- Seek to positively influence the work of statutory bodies that have a duty to advance human rights/ access to justice;
- Raise awareness of, and seek to tackle existing barriers to public interest litigation through the organisation of conferences and seminars, production of publications and other non-litigation based activities.
For more information, visit their website at www.pilsni.org or contact the Project's team at Arthur House, 41 Arthur Street, Belfast, BT1 4GB, telephone number: (0044) 28 90446201.