PROJECT: Minority Rights Group

This project is no longer accepting applicants, but if you are very interested please get in touch and we can see if there are any further opportunities.

In brief: Minority Rights Group is looking for a team of Banyan students to conduct a research project on equitable, participatory and transparent models of benefits and royalties sharing with communities (ideally indigenous communities). This project is linked to the implementation of a case before the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (CEMIRIDE and MRG (onbehalf of EWC) v Kenya) where the Commission recommended, inter alia, that Kenya “pay royalties to the Endorois [semi-nomadic indigenous people of approx. 60000 people] from existing economic activities”.

The research project will aim at providing concrete material on and examples of levels of royalty and benefit sharing with local communities (i.e. examples of revenue sharing from natural resource extraction/ tourism by communities in comparable situations). Examples from Africa would be ideal but examples from other regions could also be of benefit.

This data will ideally be presented in a clear memorandum format and the evidence obtained will be used both to inform and subsequently back up the Endorois’ position in negotiations with the Kenyan government. 

We are looking for a team of at least 2 to 3 students to work on this project.

Commitments: Minority Rights Group are looking to get a good draft of this research project completed by early April. Time commitments for individual students will depend on the size of the team working on the project.


Deadline: As soon as possible. Please email us at soas@banyan-advocates.co.uk detailing your availability and interest in the project. Please also attach a CV.

Banyan Summary 2012

2012 has been an exciting year for Banyan, and as we begin our first full year, we would like to give you a quick summary of our activities so far:

April 2012 saw the official creation of Banyan: SOAS Advocates, with an extremely successful opening event on 23^rd April. “Putting your degree into action” saw a number of speakers from legal, NGO and academic backgrounds discuss the many ways students could demonstrate their abilities and experience, encouraging them to make the most of opportunities to apply their skills in practice on different research projects in a range of environments.

Since then, Banyan has offered a series of exciting opportunities to postgraduate students at SOAS.

In August 2012, the Revenue Watch Institute (RWI) asked Banyan to build a team of several students to work with RWI in supporting the implementation of the government of Guinea’s new mining code. The students have helped the government in ongoing negotiations and drafted research reports on different mining companies.

In the same month three Banyan students joined the MSI Project, an NGO monitoring the human rights impacts of multi-stakeholder initiatives. They wrote reports analysing some of these initiatives and helped generate recommendations to improve their adherence to human rights standards.

In November 2012, the Aegis Trust came to Banyan via Dr Chandra Sriram from the SOAS School of Law. Four postgraduate students are researching and drafting a report regarding Sudan and the ICC, which should be available by mid-February 2013.

Banyan is in the process of creating a team to work on a case with human rights solicitors Deighton Pierce Glynn. Deighton are particularly interested in Banyan’s multi-lingual membership as the case relates to immunity for torture prosecution and a leading official in an Arabic speaking country.

Finally, Dr Lutz Oette at SOAS has asked Banyan to recruit a single student to collaborate with the African Centre for Justice and Peace on a major report focused on Sudan.

As you can tell, this year has been an exciting one for Banyan and its members, something we’re hoping to continue this in 2013. If you'd like to get involved in running Banyan and working alongside out partner organisations, please contact us at  soas@banyan-advocates.co.uk.

We hope everyone has an excellent 2013!

Luke, Jess and Deval

PROJECT: African Centre for Justice and Peace

THIS PROJECT IS NOW AT FULL CAPACITY

We will let you know if and when more people are required 

In brief: Banyan has been asked by the Lutz Oette, a lecturer in human rights law, to work on a project in collaboration with the African Centre for Justice and Peace. The project is focused on Sudan.

The project will require editing, researching and re-writing a major report on prisons and human rights in Sudan, to be published by the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies, probably in collaboration with REDRESS.

We are looking for 1 student to work on this project.

Student will be credited in report and there is a possibility of further research engagement with ACJPS.

Competencies: sound knowledge of applicable human rights law and good drafting skills; knowledge of human rights situation in Sudan desirable but not essential

Commitments: 5-10 hours per week depending on availability, with the initial draft for 11 January 2013 and the revised draft to be completed by 25 January 2013

Deadline: As soon as possible. Please email us at soas@banyan-advocates.co.uk before December 5^th with details of your availability and hours you can commit; please also attach a CV that includes information on your knowledge of the competencies, as cited above. 

PROJECT : Deighton Pierce Glynn legal case

In brief: Banyan has been asked Sue Willman, a partner at Deighton Pierce Glynn, to work on a case regarding a leading official in an Arabic speaking country. The CPS/DPP have been asked to prosecute the official for torture under universal jurisdiction. 

The project will support legal research/evidence review and collection to assemble a file to prese

nt to the CPS/police to support the investigation and prosecution. There is no legal aid/public funding for a private prosecution or work on preparing for a public prosecution and the exile community has limited access to finance.

That case explores interesting post Pinochet legal arguments about whether there is functional immunity for torture prosecution, and if so what level of official it should apply to as well as the extent of personal immunity. Students would be kept informed about the progress of this case and could attend the trial, should it proceed.
The final output for the documents will be in scanned, printable documents and clear, well-written and referenced research notes.

Some evidence has already been collected but further research, including internet research of materials in English and Arabic, is needed.

We are looking to build a team of 2 to 4 students to work on this project.

Competencies: At least one student at least should be able to read/translate Arabic documents. Interest and/or knowledge in the Arabic speaking world, universal jurisdiction and/or criminal procedure in the UK are desirable. Good organisational ability, reliability and research skills are essential. Excellent written English or Arabic is essential.

Commitments: 5-10 hours initial work per person reading into the case. 40-80hrs overall work for the group.

Initial notes of research by Christmas 2012, with an initial dossier by the end of February 2013 with the final dossier to be ready for March 2013.

Deadline: Please email us at soas@banyan-advocates.co.uk with details of your availability and hours you can commit; please also attach a CV that includes information on your knowledge of the competencies, as cited above.

Confidentiality: Confidentiality is highly important for this project, every participating student will have to sign a confidentiality agreement and be aware of the importance of utmost confidentiality during the entirety of the project cycle.

PROJECT: The Aegis Trust

THIS PROJECT IS NOW AT FULL CAPACITY

We will let you know if and when more people are required 

In brief: Banyan has been asked by the Aegis Trust to work on a project focused on Sudan and the ICC indictments as a case study to explore and provide recommendations as to what new or existing international structures or mechanisms are required to improve the implementation of international justice in relation to Sudan and the broader context of the African Union, ICC and individual states.

The final document produced will be a research report divided into thematic chapters including a literature review and and providing a chronology or summary of relevant international law, domestic legislation and decision making process (and policy positions of states) regarding Sudan and the ICC. Further information on the content of the report will be given to those on the project.

Aegis will consider publishing the report and will use the report to formulate policy recommendations for global advocacy and advocacy targeted at the UK government.

We are looking to build a team of 3 or 4 students to work on this project.

Competencies: Knowledge of international law, particularly international criminal law, human rights law and UN institutions.

Commitments: 15hrs per week over the course of 10 weeks. A draft report is to be completed by mid-January with a final report produced by mid-February. The Aegis trust will use the report for advocacy purposes from March 2013 onwards.

This comes down to an estimated 5hrs per student per week. (Please note that estimations can vary and that it also depends on your input and involvement on the project)

Deadline: As soon as possible. Please email us at soas@banyan-advocates.co.uk with details of your availability and hours you can commit; please also attach a CV that includes information on your knowledge of the competencies, as cited above. A ‘point of contact’ will be assigned based on competence and experience to co-ordinate the work. Quality control will be assured by Jo Henderson at the Aegis trust. 

Banyan is recruiting!

The recruitment is now complete, please see this post for further news

We are still recruiting for new committee members.

The deadline is Friday 16th November and all relevant information can be found in the link below.

Please get in touch with us if you have any further questions! 

Job Specification - Banyan Committee

Our Ethical Guidelines

When we began setting up Banyan, we soon realised that we had to elaborate on the sorts of projects that the network would take on. Broadly speaking, our projects will always have clear development, human rights or social advocacy goals. Such a description is fairly vague and all-encompassing, and thus we set about drafting the ethical guidelines we would follow when receiving project proposals.

By following the link below you will find these ethical guidelines.

Banyan: SOAS Advocates - Ethical Guidelines

For any further information on these guidelines, how projects can be proposed and the project cycle, please feel free to email us at soas@banyan-advocates.co.uk