The International Committee is composed of subcommittees which develop the NLG’s work in a range of areas and specific topics. To learn more about each subcommittee, follow the link to its page:

  • Task Force on the Americas – Addresses broadly questions of the US role in Latin America and throughout the hemisphere. Solidarity work with Venezuela, Bolivia, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Mexico and more. Works closely with the Cuba Subcommittee, Haiti Subcommittee and Puerto Rico Subcommittee. Organizes numerous delegations, actions and events on a wide variety of prominent issues in the region.
  • Palestine Subcommittee – The Palestine Subcommittee works on providing legal support to the movement for justice and freedom in Palestine. This includes working with Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movements, challenging repressive legislation, supporting students’ and others right to organize and speak on Palestine, advocating for Palestinian political prisoners, organizing delegations, and challenging directly U.S. and Israeli violations of international law and Palestinian rights.
  • Cuba Subcommittee – Works on education, challenging the US economic blockade of Cuba, defending & advising travelers to Cuba and support for travel challenges, delegations to Cuba, bringing Cuban representatives to the US & NLG functions, and solidarity and normalization more broadly. Has listserv & FB. *note: $15 dues annually.
  • Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Committee – The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Committee works on issues of urgency and interest for Indigenous peoples and nations inside and outside the land of the United States. It works closely with the Environmental Human Rights Committee on issues of the rights of the earth and extractive industries in indigenous land, and with Indigenous movements internationally.
  • Africa Subcommittee – The Africa Subcommittee works to support people’s movements in Africa and challenge U.S. military intervention and corporate exploitation in Africa. It connects with diverse movements and struggles in countries across Africa, and engages in UN and other international advocacy in connection with those movements.
  • Haiti Subcommittee – Works on supporting people’s movements in Haiti and holding the US and UN accountable for their negative and destructive roles in Haiti. Works closely with the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) and BAI; organized recent delegation for election observation.
  • International Labor Justice Working Group – A joint working group with the Labor and Employment Committee, the ILJWG works on international issues in labor and coordinates closely with progressive labor lawyers in Canada and in Latin America.
  • MENA (Middle East North Africa) Action Group – The MENA Action Group works on U.S. accountability in the region and in connection with social movements, labor unions and progressive organizations broadly within the region. It organizes delegations, panels and legal work around issues relating to Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, Bahrain, Iraq and elsewhere in the region.
  • Human Rights Framework Project – The Human Rights Framework Project works on “bringing human rights home,” emphasizing U.S. accountability for violations of human rights within the United States. It also works on advocating for economic, social and cultural rights within the U.S. and internationally, and participates in shadow reporting and related processes on the U.S. human rights record.
  • Hawaiian Kingdom Subcommittee – The newest subcommittee of the International Committee, this group works to develop and promote an international humanitarian law analysis of the U.S. occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom and advocate for justice.
  • Agent Orange Working Group – This working group engages in advocacy, legislative and legal work for the victims of Agent Orange, in Vietnam and in the United States. It is currently focusing on legislation introduced that provides compensation for victims of Agent Orange both in Vietnam and in the U.S.
  • Environmental Human Rights Committee – The EHRC uses the lens of human rights to focus on environmental issues, including climate change, extractive industries and the exploitation of indigenous peoples and lands. It has organized delegations to conferences and events on climate change, as well as producing CLEs on urgent environmental issues.
  • Mesoamerica Subcommittee – The Mesoamerica Subcommittee works with partners in Mexico and throughout Central America on issues relating to labor rights, migrant rights and human rights overall, addressing U.S. and other governments’ violations and supporting popular movements.
  • Puerto Rico Subcommittee – The Puerto Rico Subcommittee works to challenge U.S. colonialism in Puerto Rico, support Puerto Rican movements, and hold the U.S. accountable for its actions in Puerto Rico. It works to free Puerto Rican political prisoners and support Puerto Rican decolonization from the US; it is currently involved in legal and political work around Vieques and for relief of Puerto Rico’s odious debt, as well as the case of Oscar Lopez Rivera.
  • Philippines Subcommittee – The Philippines Subcommittee works closely with people’s movements and people’s lawyers in the Philippines, challenging the role of the US in the Philippines, including struggling against US bases in the Philippines. Works on issues of political prisoners, peasants and workers struggles, indigenous struggles, and related concerns.
  • Colombia Subcommittee – The Colombia Subcommittee organizes to challenge the effects of U.S. intervention in Colombia, support labor, social and Afro-Colombian movements, and stand with Colombian colleagues against human rights violations. Works on student, labor and social justice issues, militarization and political repression..
  • Article 9 Working Group – The Article 9 Working Group works with Japanese progressive lawyers and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers to defend Article 9 (the “peace clause”) in Japan’s constitution against militarization.