OUR MANDATE
The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is the first and only independent organisation defending and empowering the Palestine solidarity movement in Europe through legal means. We provide free legal advice and assistance to associations, human rights NGOs, groups and individuals advocating for Palestine in mainland Europe and Britain.
The ELSC intervenes to end arbitrary restrictions and criminalisation of advocacy. It also develops legal tools and engages in strategic litigation to support civil society advocacy and campaigns.
The ELSC was established in January 2019 as a joint initiative of European jurists, the Palestinian civil society network PNGO and the Dutch NGO The Rights Forum. In 2024, the ELSC became a registered charity (stichting) in the Netherlands, licensed to operate for the public benefit, including through litigation in Dutch courts. In 2024, we also opened new offices in Berlin and London.
How we work
▾ LEGAL DEPARTMENT:
We have five work teams across Europe who provide legal support and advice to those face repression for standing in solidarity with Palestine. We coordinate with a growing network of lawyers across Europe to ensure everyone in the movement has access to the best possible legal advice, representation or referral. Through legal strategies, litigation, investigative research, and advocacy efforts, we also aim to dismantle the structures that shield corporations, financial entities, and political institutions from accountability for their role in enabling genocide, settlement expansion, and ethnic cleansing in occupied Palestine.
▾ ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATIONS:
Our Advocacy and Communication Department ensures that the movement is not left alone resisting repression and fighting impunity, and that repression and criminilisation is not left under the rug. We run public campaigns and amplify our legal victories and Know Your Rights resources on social media, in the mainstream media and at community events.
▾ OPERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT:
Our Operations and Development Department ensures that the ELSC meets our strategic goals. Our Development Team works to ensure that we have financial suastainability and can continue to scale in order to meet the needs of the movement. Our Operations Team is focused on organisational structures and processes from financial management, cyber security and human resources.
Our Board & Team
OUR GOVERNANCE & BOARD
The European Legal Support Center (ELSC) is a registered charity (stichting) in the Netherlands, our head-office is in Amsterdam and also have offices in Berlin and London. The ELSC is the first and only independent organisation of movement lawyers defending and empowering the Palestine Solidarity Movement in Europe through legal means. Established in 2019 by the Palestinian civil society network PNGO, the ELSC has provided legal assistance in over 600 cases in seven different jurisdictions.
The ELSC Board
Mary Nazzal-Batayneh
Dr. Mazen Masri