Legislative Testimony

PILPG members are frequently called upon to testify before the United States Congress as experts on a range of issues relating to international law.  PILPG member have testified on topics including the standards of military commissions and tribunals, policy opportunities in Southeastern Europe, accountability for war crimes, and more. Some examples from previous statements are included below.

Testimony on: Closing the Accountability Gap in Syria: Pathways to Prosecution

Testimony by: Professor Milena Sterio

PILPG Managing Director Professor Milena Sterio testified before the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a hearing entitled "The Path Forward On U.S.-Syria Policy: Strategy And Accountability." Professor Sterio’s testimony, entitled “Closing the Accountability Gap in Syria: Pathways to Prosecution,” outlines the imperative accountability options for the prosecution of Syrian leaders who have ordered the commission of atrocity crimes. Read her written testimony and watch her oral testimony here →


Testimony On:
Accountability for the Yazidi Genocide

Testimony By:
Dr. Marieke de Hoon

Marieke de Hoon, PILPG-NL Director and Senior Counsel, testified before the Dutch Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee about the situation of the Yazidis. Dr. Marieke de Hoon’s remarks featured options for accountability for the perpetrators of the Yazidi genocide, committed by ISIS, including prosecution where the crimes were committed, through international courts and tribunals, and through domestic courts elsewhere, as well as their challenges. Read her position paper here →


Testimony on: Accountability in Kosovo

Testimony by:   
Dr. Paul R. Williams

Paul Williams testified before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on securing justice and accountability for victims of the Kosovo Conflict, with particular attention given to victims of conflict-related sexual violence. Read his written testimony here →

Watch his oral testimony here →


Paul Williams testified before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats on creating a strategic framework for addressing the conflict between sovereignty and self-determination. Read more here → 

Testimony on: Earned Sovereignty 

Testimony by:   
Dr. Paul R. Williams


Paul Williams provided a written testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on neo-trusteeship in South Sudan. Read more here → 

Testimony on: South Sudan

Testimony by:     
Dr. Paul R. Williams


Testimony on:
MH17 attack

Testimony by:
Dr. Marieke de hoon

Marieke de Hoon, PILPG-NL Co-Director, testified in Dutch parliament regarding the MH17 attack.  Read more here → 


Testimony on:
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

Testimony by:
Michael scharf

Michael Scharf, Co-Founder of PILPG, testified to the Subcommittee on International Operations of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on the topic of the International Criminal Court as a U.S. national interest. Read more here → 


Testimony on:
Yugoslavia

Testimony by:
James hooper

James R. Hooper,  former Managing Director of PILPG, provided insight on U.S. support of Serbian democratization, stressing its importance for the stability of the Balkans, the viability of the NATO alliance, and continued U.S. leadership in Europe following the Cold War. Read more here → 


Testimony on:
kOSOVO

Testimony by:
Dr. Paul R. Williams

Paul Williams, PILPG's Co-Founder and former Legal Advisor to the Kosovo Albanian Delegation to the Rambouillet/Paris Peace Negotiations, gave a testimony before the Sub-Committee on European Affairs of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on prospects for long term peace in the Balkans. Read more here →