International Legal Assistance Branch
What does ILAB do?
The International Legal Assistance Branch (ILAB) works with partner countries in Asia, Africa and the Pacific to strengthen domestic legal frameworks and responses to transnational crime.
ILAB delivers law and justice capacity building assistance to partner countries in the Pacific, South and South-East Asia and Africa. This assistance is aimed primarily at strengthening legal frameworks and processes for domestic crime and policing, international crime cooperation including mutual assistance in criminal matters and extradition, as well as transnational crime including people smuggling, people trafficking, terrorism, money-laundering and proceeds of crime.
ILAB develop capacity building programs collaboratively with partner countries and tailor the work to suit the partner countries needs. Programs may include any combination of the following activities:
- bilateral or multilateral workshops and training on legal concepts and international obligations,
- legal and policy advice and guidance on strengthening domestic legal frameworks,
- assistance in drafting legal frameworks and explanatory material,
- support to officials responsible for advising their Governments and Parliaments on domestic legal frameworks, and
- assistance with the practical implementation of domestic legal frameworks, including training and mentoring for police, prosecutors and legal policy officials.
The Branch consists of four geographic sections and one specialist team:
- Pacific Section - assists Pacific countries to develop law and justice frameworks, including police legislation,
- South Asia Section - works co-operatively with countries in South Asia to develop or strengthen legal frameworks that combat transnational crime, including people smuggling and terrorism,
- South-East Asia Section - works co-operatively with countries in South-East Asia to develop or strengthen legal frameworks that combat transnational crime, including people smuggling, human trafficking and terrorism,
- Africa Section - delivers technical legal assistance to African countries on transnational crime and international legal cooperation, and
- Anti-Money Laundering Assistance Team - delivers assistance to regional countries on measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing and to take proceeds of crime action.
The Branch also manages Australia’s law and justice (non-policing) deployees to Papua New Guinea under the Strongim Gavman Program. This is a flagship capacity building program with Attorney-General’s Department deployees working collaboratively with their PNG counterparts in the law and justice sector including, the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, the Office of the Public Prosecutor, the Correctional Services Commission, the Office of the Solicitor General and the Office of the State Solicitor.
Why does the Attorney-General's Department provide international legal assistance?
The Attorney-General's Department's mission is to achieve a just and secure society and in a globalised world with the free flow of people, capital, goods and information, cooperation with other states is essential. ILAB engages with and assists other countries to ensure that they have the capacity to tackle crime within their borders and to effectively cooperate with Australian to tackle transnational crime.
The Branch advance many Whole-of-Government priorities, including combating people smuggling and fighting organised crime as well as national security, foreign policy and defence priorities as set out in the Commonwealth Strategic Organised Crime Framework, the Defence White Paper and the National Security Statement, for example.
ILAB’s work also promotes good governance, which is one of the seven key sectors of Australia’s aid program. Law and justice assistance is critical to promoting effective states by improving accountability, combating corruption, enhancing economic growth and promoting human rights and the rule of law.
For more information or to request assistance, please vist the How to request international legal assistance page.