Constitution-making for Peace Programme

Authors: Michele Brandt, Jill Cottrell, Yash Ghai, Anthony Regan

September 2011 - This handbook is the 'how to guide' for constitution-makers around the world. Over 120 practitioners and experts with invaluable first hand field experience have been involved in the drafting. Over 100 case studies fed into the process. The book does not focus on just one area of constitution-making but takes a global view on the issue.

Authors: Michele Brandt, Jill Cottrell, Yash Ghai, Anthony Regan

September 2011 - The introductory pages include: A foreword by Lakhdar Brahimi, a preface by Interpeace Director-General Scott M. Weber, biographies of the authors, contents, and an overview of the constitution-making handbook.

September 2011 - This document contains the full list of contents of the book 'Constitution-making and Reform: Options for the Process'.

Author: Lakhdar Brahimi

September 2011 - The foreword of Constitution-making and Reform: Options for the Peace Process by Lakhdar Brahimi, former Foreign Minister of Algeria and former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to South-Africa, Haiti, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Author: Scott M. Weber

September 2011 - The preface of the constitution-making handbook written by Scott M. Weber, Director-General of Interpeace.

Authors: Michele Brandt, Jill Cottrell, Yash Ghai, Anthony Regan

September 2011 - Part 1 is an introduction to constitution-making processes. It outlines the key issues about the roles of constitutions (the main reasons why they are made) and some of the challenges,dilemmas, and opportunities involved in constitution-making, especially in situations of conflict.

Authors: Michele Brandt, Jill Cottrell, Yash Ghai, Anthony Regan

September 2011 - Part 2 discusses common tasks carried out in constitution-making processes.

Authors: Michele Brandt, Jill Cottrell, Yash Ghai, Anthony Regan

September 2011 - Part 3 is concerned with the institutions and procedures commonly established to carry out the tasks commonly carried out in constitution-making processes. These include commissions, constituent assemblies, and national conferences, as well as bodies created for other purposes but that may be involved in the constitution-making process by necessity or in exceptional circumstances - including a parliament, the secretariat of a parliament, the courts, and the election-management authorities.

Authors: Michele Brandt, Jill Cottrell, Yash Ghai, Anthony Regan

September 2011 - Part 4 provides guidance for external actors in the process, who may act on their own initiative or be linked with the official process. This section focuses on the role of civil society and the media in activities such as starting the process, voting, civic education, public consultation, making submissions, research, lobbying, and monitoring the process. It also discusses the common pitfalls for constitution-making processes when the international community has taken a leading role, either officially or unofficially. It concludes with an observation about the lack of guidance in this area for international constitutional-assistance actors and some brief practical tips for improving international engagement in these situations.

Authors: Michele Brandt, Jill Cottrell, Yash Ghai, Anthony Regan

September 2011 - Appendix A includes brief case studies reflecting the range of exeperience of constitution-making processes. Appendix B contains a glossary. Appendix C provides sample codes of conduct and Appendix D lists the references used in the constitution-making handbook.