Joyce Hakmeh
Arab Center for the of the Rule of Law and Integrity (ACRLI)
The excerpt below comes from our Innovations in Rule of Law - A Compilation of Concise Essays report produced by WJP and Hiil. To read the full essay, click here.
 
Legal information building and sharing maximises justice and the rule of law; citizens become knowledgeable about the law, while those working in the legal system are better able to enforce the rule of law. Many Arab governments have been “sharing” information by increasing access to legal information through increasing access to public laws, court documents, government forms, etc.; they have been also “building” information by digitalising and automating records and processes to increase internal efficiency; this is commonly referred to as “e-government”.
 
However, the information building and sharing movement has not been without its challenges; illiteracy, public sector inefficiencies, a lagging IT industry, and other elements have hindered optimal success in the region, yet, they did not stand in the way of achieving several successes due to the cooperation of governments with the international community, NGOs, and the private sector.
 
While there are success stories, the region as a whole has not reached its full potential regarding legal information building and sharing. It is critical that the international community maintains its support to countries that are willing but not able to reach their optimal provision of access to information. The international community needs to encourage a collaborative international environment and assist in both knowledge and finances. Effective information building and sharing cannot occur without the dedication of individual governments and the cooperation of the region, international community, NGOs, and the private sector. 
Joyce Hakmeh Arab Center for the of the Rule of Law and Integrity (ACRLI)
title bar

Read More

title bar
Docks with a graph on top representing business and the rule of law

Businesses have become increasingly sophisticated at measuring financial, operational, geopolitical, and climate risk, but they still lack equally sophisticated tools to measure key sources of institutional risk. This institutional risk is the uncertainty businesses face from the lack of predictability, integrity, effectiveness and resilience of legal and governance institutions. It is also becoming a key determinant of investment decisions, supply-chain resilience, and long-term competitiveness

Read More
In the Robe Jacqueline Kamau wfrom Kenya with robes

Judge Jacqueline Kamau sat down with In the Robe to explore how out-of-court settlements advance women’s rights, clear court backlogs, preserve relationships, and protect vulnerable litigants from public scrutiny in Kenya. She analyzes the intersection of formal judicial rulings and customary traditional justice systems, and dispels the myth of the emotionless judge.

Read More