Highlights from the IBA Conference in Boston
Former US Secretary of State tackles law & socio-economic development at IBA Conference
As the Annual Conference of the International Bar Association (IBA) winds down in Boston, USA, one of the significant highlights of the conference was the opening ceremony which took place on Sunday at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, of the Hynes Convention Centre – were former US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, addressed an audience of over 5,000 lawyers from 170 jurisdictions of the IBA around the globe.
Albright who was the Keynote speaker at the conference, highlighted the significance of law to society and development.
She gave a descriptive analogy of the relationship between law and society; likening it to that of a needle and thread, neither of which can function without the other. In her words…, “without the law, the fabric of any society will simply unravel and fray.”
Speaking also on the Rule of law and its enforcement, Albright informed participants, that it was most important for statutes must be shaped and enforced with the interests of true justice in mind, explaining that when this is done, it becomes easier to implement the laws.
In Albright’s representation of the concept of legal identity, which she identified as an important aspect of poverty in society, the Former US Secretary, who has worked as Co-Chair on the United Nations Development Programme Commission, touched on poverty and legal rights. According to her, the poor are continuously unable to voice their needs (adequately), to seek redress against injustice, participate in public life and influence policies that ultimately would shape their lives.
These, she points out would undoubtedly influence how communities living in poverty view the rule of law. “It’s only natural that people who see themselves as less legally protected see themselves as less legally bound.”
She continued, “Progress is most likely to take place, when broad sectors of the population understand the value of legal empowerment and organize themselves for that purpose.”
Earlier, in his welcome address, the President of the IBA, Michael Reynolds, had urged participants to make the most of the conference, including the social offerings in a city like Boston
The showcase sessions at this year’s conference, include Human trafficking, Human rights at 65, What happens in Vegas stays on the internet, Climate change justice, Preparing for the future: Changes in structure, technology and regulation for the legal profession, and Globalisation of legal services.
The IBA’s public law section launches new subcommittee
The IBA’s public law section on Monday formally launched its new subcommittee dedicated to issues faced by international organisations’ legal counsel.
The session which took place on the second day of the conference, explored the recommended agenda, structure and priorities of the newly-formed subcommittee; with significant input and suggestions from present and former legal counsel of international organisations who were in attendance.
The subcommittee is the new creation of the public law section and the OECD, and aims to provide an international platform for the exchange of ideas and dialogue on issues confronting legal directorates around the world.
Speaking at this meeting, session co-chair Christo Botha, of the University of Pretoria, South Africa noted the non-existence of an international forum that catered for lawyers in international organisations to discuss issues such as immunities and cross-border contracts.
Buttressing this point, session panelist, Yaara Alon of the OECD directorate for legal affairs stated that, “It could be very useful to have a forum with a good exchange on hot topics, and where appropriate, to think about collective and joint action on certain issues,”.
According to her, the understanding that international organisations share the same preoccupations underpins the subcommittee’s formation and operations going forward.
Earlier this year, the legal directorates of leading international organisations were asked to identify their key areas of concern and priorities. The issues that came up again for discussion include, privileges and immunities, governance, anti-bribery and fraud internet regulation and intellectual property, cloud computing and data protection.
IBA announces human rights award winner
In another development, the International Bar Association has announced the winner of this year’s Human Rights Award.
The recipient, a former professor of constitutional and international law at the Somalia National University, Abubakar Hassan Ahmed was a victim of the regime of dictator Said Barre from 1969 to 1991.
The Award, which will be presented to the recipient tomorrow, Friday 11th October, 2013 during the Rule of Law Symposium in Boston, recognises personal endeavour in the field of law which makes an outstanding contribution to the promotion, protection and advancement of human rights and the rule of law. Nigerians, who have received the award in the past, include the late Gani Fawehinmi, SAN and Femi Falana, SAN.
This year’s winner, Abubakar Hassan Ahmed is the current legal adviser to the office of the president, in Somalia.
By: Theodora Kio-Lawson