IISL Committees – IISL

IISL COMMITTEES
AND
DIRECTORATE OF STUDIES

General Committees and Directorate of Studies

The IISL operates through various specialised committees and a Directorate of studies that help to IISL Board of Directors to adequately fulfil its responsibilities.

Directorate of Studies

The major task of the Directorate of Studies (DoS) is to help the IISL Board of Directors to adequately fulfill its responsibilities. It does so by carrying out numerous activities relevant for the agenda of the Board. First, the DoS is active by identifying topics for future IISL colloquia to be discussed and agreed upon by the Board. Next, it is in charge of preparing analyses of legal problems with the aim of helping the Board to find the basis for a common statement. Thirdly, DoS studies help to synthesize existing legal views on pressing and important problems of international space law for which guidance of the Board is sought. Finally, the DoS prepares answers of the Board to requests from UN organs like UNOOSA with regard to important agenda of the UNCOPUOS for its future meetings involving the IISL as an NGO with an observer status.

Manfred Lachs Moot Court Committee

The Manfred Lachs Moot Court Committee shall oversee the annual Manfred Lachs International Space Law Moot Court Competition. Toward this end, the Committee shall promote and coordinate with the regional competitions and organize and conduct the Semi-finals and Final rounds of the competition.

The functions of the Committee shall include, among other things, the maintenance of the Official Rules of the competition, the establishment of the schedule, and the preparation of the Moot Problem. The Committee shall ensure that the Problem is drafted and posted on the IISL website in a timely manner in accordance with a schedule. The Committee shall distribute the Problem to the regional organizers and shall oversee the provision of clarifications by (i) collecting questions for clarification from the regional organizers, (ii) obtaining responses from the problem author and (iii) drafting a comprehensive document containing all clarifications which shall be provided to the regional organizers for distribution to the teams.

The Committee shall also ensure that the Problem author prepares a summary of the Problem and a bench memorial in a timely manner so that such materials can be provided to the judges. The Committee shall serve as the IISL liaison with the Local Organizing Committee for the IAF to arrange for the Semi-finals and Final rounds of the competition during the annual Colloquium. The Committee shall coordinate with the IISL President and with the organizers of the annual IISL awards dinner regarding the venue for the Final and the travel for the Judges for the Final. The Committee shall also be responsible for other tasks in connection with the Semi-finals and Final rounds of the competition such as (i) the preparation of written brochures or other descriptive materials, (ii) arranging the production of plaques and certificates, (iii) arranging for time keepers and judge assistants, (iv) inviting judges to judge written memorials and semi-finals oral arguments and providing them with the memorials and other necessary materials and (v) collecting the funds from award sponsors.

The original Manfred Lachs Trophy has been placed on permanent display at the International Court of Justice at the Peace Palace in The Hague, The Netherlands. A replica trophy shall be shall be kept and maintained by the Moot Court Committee (e.g. a co-chair) and be presented during the World Finals and for exhibition purposes in other events. The Committee shall prepare an annual Moot Court Report for inclusion in the Proceedings of the IISL which shall include the names of the Judges, the members of the teams participating in the Semi-finals and Final, the winners of the competition and the awards, names of sponsors and the memorials pleaded by the finalist teams during the Final (in edited form).

Following each competition, the Committee shall promptly provide to (i) the IISL webmaster and (ii) the Executive Secretary with the results of the competition so that such information may be posted on the IISL website and included in the IISL newsletter. The Committee shall also prepare revisions to the Official Rules as may become necessary or advisable (with the understanding that all rule revisions must be approved by the Board). The Committee shall also promote the further development of the competition, including the potential expansion of the regional competitions to include regions that do not yet participate in the competition.

Public Relations Including Social Media – PRISM

It is the main mission of the IISL Committee on Public Relations Including Social Media (PRISM Committee) to use all modern means for communication with the general public to raise awareness of and further enhance the visibility of IISL and of the relevance of its activities in order to further the aims and objectives of IISL, in accordance with the IISL Statute and the IISL By-Laws, and to ensure the interests of IISL are properly and in a coherent fashion represented.

Committee on the Status of International Agreements Relating to Activities in Outer Space

The Committee on the Status of International Agreements Relating to Activities in Outer Space prepares and submits at each annual Colloquium a report on the status of agreements relating to activities in outer space. The report shall also contain basic data concerning Declarations of Principles Relating to Activities in Outer Space adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The Committee members shall collect, review and verify data concerning selected space agreements. Agreements of general global applicability or regional applicability are selected for reporting. Bilateral agreements are not included in the report. The Committee shall also provide the report to the IISL webmaster so that the report may be posted on the IISL website.

Committees of the General Assembly

The Committees of the IISL General Assembly support the Institute’s internal governance by preparing key documents, reports, and procedural materials that keep members informed and engaged.

Audit Committee

The General Assembly shall elect an Audit Committee of at least three Members in good standing, who shall not be Members of the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee has oversight responsibility for ascertaining that the Institute’s financial reports accurately represent the true picture, are supported by adequate records, and are consistent with the estimates and purposes presented to the General Assembly. The Treasurer shall provide to the Committee all relevant information and make the books and documents available for inspection. At least one committee member shall have relevant experience in financial matters. If, in the opinion of the Committee, special accounting knowledge is required to perform its duties, it may arrange for the assistance of an expert at the reasonable expense of the Institute.

Elections Committee

The Committee shall be comprised of three Members who are not Board Members, are in good standing, and who do not have any conflict of interest. The Election Committee shall draw up the list of qualifying candidates, supervise the election process, and count the votes. It may, if necessary, seek additional support from Members of the Secretariat who are not parties to the election, for counting or for other duties.

Ethics Committee

The IISL Ethics Committee is a committee under the IISL General Assembly and was established in 2022. It is guided by the IISL Ethics Code and Terms of Reference, which were adopted in 2022 and can be found here.

The Ethics Committee is currently represented by:

Tanja Masson-Zwaan (Chair)
Hamza Hameed
Deepika Jey
Lulu Makapela
Larry Martinez

IISL Association

The IISL Association manages membership engagement, oversees sponsorships, and supports the recognition of excellence in space law through its awards programs.

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee has the responsibility to develop new members, both individual and corporate, and to prepare the reports to the Board and the Executive Secretary of the Institute as described herein.

The Membership Committee has the responsibility to develop new members, both individual and corporate, and to prepare the reports to the Board and the Executive Secretary of the Institute as described herein.

The Committee members shall seek to enhance the membership of the Institute by identifying individuals and corporate entities that possess the qualifications needed to become members of the Institute. The Committee shall also act as a liaison between such prospective members and the Institute to facilitate the nomination process. When identifying prospective members, the Committee shall take into account the criteria for nomination set forth in Article III of the Institute Statutes.

Each prospective member must be nominated by a Director or by three Members. The Committee shall obtain (1) a nomination form and (2) a curriculum vitae for each nominee. If either of the required documents is missing or incomplete, the Committee shall contact the nominee or other parties as necessary to acquire these documents. The Committee shall maintain records of the nomination documents for future reference.

The Committee shall send to the President and the Executive Secretary a report on all nominees one month prior to the Spring Board meeting and the Fall Board meeting. The report shall contain for each nominee (1) the nominee’s full name and contact information, (2) a brief summary of the nominee’s credentials and activities related to space law, (3) the names of the nominators, and (4) the Committee’s recommendation regarding the nominee. When forming its recommendations regarding nominees, the Committee shall apply the criteria for nomination contained in Article III of the Institute Statutes. The Committee’s recommendations shall not be binding on the Board. Following each Board meeting, the Committee shall send welcome letters in the name of the President to the newly elected members by email and shall attach to this email the Institute Statutes and the most recent Newsletter. The Committee shall also provide the names and contact information of the new members to the Assistant Treasurer for inclusion in the master list of Institute members.

The Committee shall submit a report to the Executive Secretary twice a year listing the new members elected at the most recent Board meeting, with complete contact information for each new member, for inclusion in the Spring and Fall Newsletters. The Committee shall also submit a report to the Executive Secretary once a year listing all new members elected during the previous year, with complete contact information for each new member, to be included in the annual Proceedings.

Sponsorship Committee

The Sponsorship Committee shall develop and implement, with the approval of the Board, all sponsorship and fundraising initiatives in order to seek sources of revenue and financial support for the IISL. The committee shall identify those items and initiatives that require continued or new funding (such as the annual IISL dinner, other meetings and events, publications, the creation of scholarships and other initiatives to attract young scholars and new members, and the establishment of a permanent IISL office and staff) and shall develop a strategy for raising the necessary funds. As part of the fundraising plan, the committee shall explore potential strategies for encouraging the receipt of increased funding from institutional members. The Treasurer of the IISL shall be an ex officio member of the Committee.

Awards Committee

The Awards Committee, on its own or on the basis of nominations from IISL members, may select and recommend candidates to the IISL Board for each of the IISL awards and certificates according to the established criteria for each award or certificate. The Board shall appoint the chair and at least one member will be a Board member. Ideally, the committee will be comprised of three (3) members of the IISL, two of whom (including the Chairperson) shall be IISL Board members and one shall be an IISL member at large. The membership should preferably be announced at the IISL General Assembly meeting.

The Committee will select and recommend candidates for the following awards:

1. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: This Award may be given in recognition of a person’s lifetime (i.e. generally 25 years) of exceptional and untiring (continuous) service to the space law profession and original contribution to the development of international and/or national space law and policy.

2. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD: This Award may be given in recognition of a person’s about 15 years of outstanding and original contribution to the development of international and/or national space law and policy. This Award could also be given to a person in recognition of his/her selfless dedication and service to the IISL, inter alia, through service on the IISL Board and its Committees, representation of IISL to other bodies and fora, the organization and support of the annual Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition and other significant and sustained support of the Institute’s program and promotional activities.

3. AWARD OF APPRECIATION: This Award may be given very exceptionally to someone who has made an extra- ordinary and significant contribution, for over 20 years, to innovative approaches to the development and dissemination of juridical and social science aspects of space activities.

4. CERTIFICATE OF GRATITUDE: This Certificate may be given very selectively to someone who has rendered extra- ordinary service to the Institute; i.e. in recognition of his/her/their, (a) exceptional work on behalf of the Institute, or (b) outstanding support to the IISL in hosting/organizing IISL Colloquia, symposia, and/or Space Law Moot Court Competitions.

Following the issuance of any award, the Committee shall promptly provide the IISL webmaster with information regarding the recipient of the award so that such information may be posted on the IISL website. The Committee shall also oversee the drafting and revision of the text of any certificates issued to the recipient of an award to the extent necessary.

When entrusted by the IISL Board, the Committee may, from time to time, make recommendations to the IISL Board regarding the candidate(s) for any other award, certificate and prize. In such case, the Committee shall follow the criteria established for each of such award, certificate or prize.

Diederiks-Verschoor Award Committee

The Diederiks-Verschoor Award Committee oversees the competition for the Prof. Dr I.H.Ph. Diederiks-Verschoor Award which is awarded annually at the Colloquium by the IISL Board of Directors. The Award is given for the best paper accepted for presentation at the Institute’s Colloquium by an author not older than thirty years and who has not published more than five papers in the Proceedings of IISL Colloquia and who has not previously received this Award. The Award, consisting of a medal and an amount of 500 Euros, will be presented during the Closing Banquet on the last day (Friday) of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), for which the winner will receive a complimentary ticket.

The Committee shall review the submissions and determine which paper best adheres to and meets the rules and criteria for this Award, available on the website. Following the Committee’s decision, the Committee shall submit to the Board a written report describing each paper submitted for the competition and explaining the reasons supporting its selection of the winning paper.

Following the issuance of the award, the Committee shall promptly provide the IISL webmaster with information regarding the recipient of the award so that such information may be posted on the IISL website. The Committee shall also oversee the drafting and revision of the text of any certificates issued to the recipient of an award to the extent necessary.

The Award may be granted if at least three candidates have applied. The Committee may decline to grant an Award in any given year.

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