The Wisconsin International Law Society (WILS), a student group at the UW Law School, has received word that its draft of a model law regulating private military and security companies operating internationally was well received by a UN Working Group at its Moscow Regional Consultation in October 2008.

The WILS group was asked to conduct the research in support of efforts by José Luis Gómez del Prado, Chair of the UN Working Group established to address regulation of such entities.

Many months of work were contributed by students in the International Law Society to drafting and revising the model law, under the leadership of Margaret Maffai 3L, the Research Project Coordinator. "Margaret was instrumental in securing the research assignment in the first place, as well as carrying the project through to completion," said Brian Edstrom 3L, WILS President. "We hope the Law School may take pride in her and other students’ accomplishments on this project."

The WILS Model Law Draft was one of the main documents on the agenda of the Regional Consultation, and was introduced in both the Legislation session and the Government session. It was well received in both sessions, and will continue to be among the documents to be considered by the Working Group in the elaboration of an international instrument.

A proposal to publish the model law in Russian with an English summary in the International Criminal Law and International Justice Journal is under discussion.

Submitted by on October 31, 2008

This article appears in the categories: Articles