Amicus curiae: achievements, prospects, challenges

The international conference Amicus Curiae: Achievements, Perspectives, Challenges took place on 14-15 October 2019. The conference aimed to promote the institution of amicus curiae, present best practices regarding the application of the amicus curiae mechanism in domestic and international proceedings, discuss existing problems and challenges related to the application of this legal instrument, as well as exchange experiences and establish cooperation between the event participants. The many conference sessions were devoted to discussing the role of strategic litigation in the Polish legal system and the challenges faced by NGOs and lawyers involved in strategic litigation in the defence of human rights.

On 16 October 2019, a series of follow-up meetings were held to bring together various Polish legal projects launched by members of different legal professions in response to the constitutional crisis and the crisis of the rule of law. Meetings with representatives of the Bar were also held.

The conference was organised with the support of foreign partners: the Sankt-Petersburg-based social organisation Civic Control (Russia), the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and Human Rights Centre “Vesna” (Belarus), Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union and Human Rights Education House in Chernihiv (Ukraine). The conference is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Solidarity Fund PL and the Human Rights House Foundation. The Commissioner for Human Rights has become the honorary sponsor of the event. The first conference day was organised in collaboration with the Law Clinic of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw.

The event featured the presentation of a game and animated film explaining what the amicus curiae is and how to use this measure to engage in the process of defending human rights.