FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2010
Contact: Sophie Gebreselassie
Phone: (202) 407 9327
(301) 908-9047 - cell
E-Mail: gebreses@wjpnet.org
THE WORLD JUSTICE PROEJCT CONVENES MULTIDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE ON THE RULE OF LAW IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA
IFRANE, MOROCCO - Prominent leaders from throughout the Middle East and North Africa will convene June 24-26 at the World Justice Project (WJP) MENA Regional Rule of Law Conference in Ifrane, Morocco, to address Rule of Law issues critical to the region, and to develop multidisciplinary action plans to advance the Rule of Law.
“The Rule of Law is the predicate for the eradication of poverty, violence, corruption, pandemics, and other threats to civil society, and is fundamental to the success of all endeavors,” said William H. Neukom, WJP Founder, President and CEO. “As such, efforts to strengthen the Rule of Law are best realized when formulated and executed within a multidisciplinary framework, beyond the legal profession. The MENA 2010 Conference will facilitate the joining of these diverse groups and the development of concrete, multidisciplinary action agendas.”
With participants hailing from 29 countries, the MENA Rule of Law Conference brings together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, lawyers, judges, artists, architects, educators, faith leaders, engineers, environmentalists, public health workers, business leaders and the media.
The Conference will address topics, including access to justice for marginalized groups—in particular, women, youth and migrant communities—and the connection between the Rule of Law, economic development and resource conservation. A particular focus will be on the interface between international, national and traditional justice mechanisms—including how future advances in the Rule of Law in the MENA region will address disparities between secular and Islamic laws.
Smaller, more focused sessions on specific substantive issues—such as dispute resolution, resource allocation, women’s rights, good governance and access to public information—will allow for the development of action plans to be implemented after the Conference. The World Justice Project will open its seed grant program, the Opportunity Fund, to proposed Rule of Law initiatives generated during the Conference.
Data from the WJP Rule of Law Index, a new quantitative assessment tool that measures the extent to which countries adhere to the Rule of Law, will be presented to identify regional Rule of Law deficits and inform action plans.
Moroccan Minister of Justice Mohamed Naciri will deliver the Conference’s opening keynote address, while former Ambassador of the League of Arab States Clovis Maksoud, will serve as closing keynote speaker. Other speakers include Former Prime Minister of Algeria Ahmed Benbitour and Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Tunisia Lazhar Bououny. Joining the Conference from the WJP’s Board of Directors are former President of Romania Emil Constantinescu and former Chief of Justice of Brazil Ellen Gracie Northfleet.
“We are pleased that we have gathered a diverse and distinguished group to attend the Conference and pledge their commitment to strengthening the Rule of Law. Above all, our meetings are about planning and ensuring concrete, cross-disciplinary actions on the ground. It is the insights and expertise of our participants that makes our meetings a success,” said Hongxia Liu, World Justice Project Executive Director. “The Conference provides a platform and framework for leaders of all segments of society to work together to strengthen the Rule of Law in the MENA region—breaking down barriers to justice, prosperity, and security.”
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The World Justice Project is a multinational, multidisciplinary initiative which seeks to strengthen the Rule of Law for the development of communities of opportunity and equity. Its work is being carried out through the creation of a comprehensive Rule of Law Index, the convening of global and regional meetings of world leaders, the provision of seed grants for Rule of Law projects, and the origination of new scholarship on Rule of Law issues. The Project’s efforts are dedicated to developing practical programs in support of the Rule of Law around the world. For further details, visit www.worldjusticeproject.org. Details on the WJP MENA Regional Rule of Law Conference can be found at www.MENA2010wjp.org.
