The Public International Law and Policy Group seeks advice on how to reintegrate Somali nationals convicted of piracy back into society

Client(s) Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG)

The Public International Law and Policy Group, a non-profit organization that operates as a global pro bono law firm, asked Jones Day to advise it on the issue of how to reintegrate Somali nationals convicted of piracy into society after they serve their jail sentences. With pirate attacks off the Somali coast on the rise, many states are becoming involved with the capture, detainment, and prosecution of accused pirates. As a result, an increasing number of Somali pirates are being incarcerated and will eventually need to be reintegrated into civil society. What makes the reintegration of former Somali pirates particularly complex is that some of these nationals will be reintegrated into foreign states, such as Kenya, Mauritius, and the Seychelles, in addition to Somalia. Jones Day lawyers reviewed current and past reintegration programs that states and United Nations organizations have implemented and compiled a memorandum that includes recommendations for the states engaged in the reintegration of Somali pirates. The final report was published by PILPG in February.