#WJForum V: Day 4

Thursday, 13 July 2017

09.00              
Plenary Keynote Panel: "Freedom from Influence: Securing Responsible Independence of Judges, Legislators, and Civil Servants" 

• MODERATOR: Prof. Margaret Levi, Director, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS), Stanford University (USA)
• Mr. Rolf Alter, Director for Public Governance, OECD (Germany)
• Adv. Thuli Madonsela, Chief Patron: Thuli Madonsela Foundation; former Public Protector of the Republic of South Africa (South Africa)
• Hon. Willy Mutunga, former Chief Justice of Kenya; Member, Justice Leadership Group (Kenya)
• Mr. Asryman T. Rafanan, Assistant Ombudsman (Philippines)
• Hon. El Hadji Mansour Sy, Deputy Speaker, Parliament of Senegal; Co-president, World Council of Religions for Peace (Senegal)

The independence of judges, legislators, and civil servants is a hallmark of a rule of law society, yet political, commercial, and social pressures can pose a threat to responsible independence. While these institutions must take into account and balance competing interests in society, they cannot be captured by particular interests. Bringing their unique country perspectives on the topic, panelists will share approaches on how to secure independence within crucial institutions of governance while paying heed to relevant demands and concerns of non-governmental shareholders in the society.

11.00
Concurrent Topical Panels III

A. The Arts as a Vehicle to Advance the Rule of Law

• MODERATOR: Mrs. Lesley Rosenthal, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (USA)
• Ms. Omotala Jalade Ekeinde, Actress and Philanthropist (Nigeria)

This panel will explore the arts as a tool to advance the rule of law. Through a variety of artistic mediums including literature, film, cartoons and music, panelists will discuss how they have used their artistic talents to unmask rule of law problems within their societies and fight for a better world. Speakers will also consider how rule of law challenges constrain artistic expression, exploring issues such as censorship, confiscation, violence, and how these forces impact the ability of people to lead creative lives. Panelists will encourage participants to incorporate creative and artistic endeavors in their efforts to promote the rule of law, and highlight the power of emotional response as a distinct but crucial element in sparking reform.

B. Enabling Investment and Innovation: The Critical Role of the Rule of Law 

• MODERATOR: Dr. Salaheddin Al-Bashir, Former Minister of Justice of Jordan; Member, Justice Leadership Group (Jordan)
• Ms. Cate Ambrose, President and Executive Director, Latin American Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (Spain)
• Mr. David Asiamah, Founder, AgroMindset (Ghana)
• Mr. Minhaj Chowdhury, CEO/Co-Founder, Drinkwell (Bangladesh)
• Ms. Christina Pak, Counsel, Asian Development Bank (Philippines)

The rule of law is foundational to building communities of economic opportunity. In this panel, speakers will discuss the critical role of the rule of law in unleashing the power of investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship in building dynamic economies. Participants will hear from a variety of business leaders, including from executives of major corporations, impact investors seeking to harness market forces to generate social benefits, officers of middle income country chambers of commerce, and young entrepreneurs hoping to launch the next big idea. Speakers will address how rule of law challenges affected their business, while also highlighting how strong adherence to the rule of law helps private sector leaders get their business done.

C. Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls: Milestones and Setbacks

• MODERATOR: Amanda Gigler, Interim Executive Director, Mama Cash (Spain/Netherlands)
• Ms. Irum Ahsan, Senior Counsel, Asian Development Bank (Philippines)
• Dr. Haifa Al-Hababi, Assistant Professor, Architecture and Interior Design, Prince Sultan University (Saudi Arabia)
• Ms. Barbara Arnwine, Founder & President, Transformative Justice Coalition (USA)
• Prof. Aurora De Dios, Executive Director, Women and Gender Institute, Miriam College (Philippines)

In most countries, women and girls suffer disproportionately from weak rule of law and face multiple barriers to justice. Women earn less than men, have limited land and property rights, encounter discrimination in education and healthcare, face gender-based violence, and are underrepresented in governance and decision-making. Even where good laws exist, women are often unaware of their rights, the laws are not always enforced, or the laws may conflict with local customs and culture. Yet women and girls are also central to solutions to many of our world’s toughest challenges. Putting the rule of law behind women’s rights leads to better family nutrition and health; improved education for children; reduced vulnerability to HIV/AIDS; better access to assets and finance for families; and greater economic growth and security for communities and nations. In this panel, speakers will highlight recent gender equality milestones, but also key challenges and setbacks in advancing the rights of women and girls.

D. Harmonizing Formal, Informal, and Customary Justice 

• MODERATOR: Mr. Tim Hanstad, Co-Founder and Senior Advisor, Landesa (USA)
• Hon. Hassan Jallow, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of The Gambia (Gambia)
• Ms. Hilary Tompkins, Partner, Hogan Lovells (USA)
• Hon. Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé, Ambassador of Bolivia to The Netherlands; former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Bolivia (Bolivia)
• Dr. Ali Wardak, Reader in Criminology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of South Wales (UK)

Traditional, tribal, religious, and community-based justice systems play a major role in resolving disputes in many countries around the world, especially when formal institutions fail to provide effective remedies for large segments of the population, or when formal institutions are perceived as remote, corrupt, or ineffective. This panel will explore approaches in harmonizing these disparate systems and showcase strategies to ensure that, regardless of the chosen mechanism, citizen’s justice needs are met with efficiency, effectiveness and fairness.

13.45              
Special Sessions

A. The New Environmental Rule of Law Index: Conceptual Framework, Methodology, and Preliminary Results

• MODERATOR: Mr. Seth Davis, Chair, ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (USA); Partner, Elias Group LLP (USA)
• Ms. Sarah Chamness Long, Senior Program Associate, World Justice Project (USA)
• Ms. Christine Pratt, Program Manager, World Justice Project (USA)
• Mr. Lee DeHihns, ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources; Partner, Alston & Bird (USA)
• Ms. Claudia Rast, Past Chair, ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources; Shareholder, Butzel Long (USA)
• Mr. Steve Wolfson, Senior Attorney, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USA)

B. "Rules for a Flat World" Book Presentation 

• AUTHOR: Prof. Gillian Hadfield, Richard L. and Antoinette Schamoi Kirtland Professor of Law and Professor of Economics at the University of Southern California (USA)
• INTERVIEWER: Maurits Barendrecht, Research Director, HiiL; Professor of Legal Innovation, Tilburg University (Netherlands)

C. "Understanding the Rule of Law" Book Presentation 

• AUTHOR: Hon. Geert Corstens, former president, Supreme Court of The Netherlands
• INTERVIEWER: Prof. Jack Knight, JFrederic Cleaveland Professor of Law and Political Science, Duke Law (USA

15.15
Practical Programs: Final Presentations and Audience Vote 

During the final plenary gathering, 12 participants selected by their peers will “fast pitch” their ideas for practical, locally led programs to advance the rule of law in their community. The audience will vote on one “people’s choice” winner to receive a seed grant from WJP to implement their idea.

16.30              
Plenary Keynote Conversation 

• Mr. Wesley Wong, SC, Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong SAR)
• Professor Tom Ginsburg, Leo Spitz Professor of International, Ludwig and Hilde Wolf Research Scholar, and Professor of Political Science

17.30              
Closing Remarks

18.00
Film Screening: "Cries from Syria"

• Discussion following, with Filmmaker Evgeny Afineevsky (USA)

Photos: Daniel Maissan for World Justice Project