International Development Law Organization

Partnership Forum on the Rule of Law for Sustainable Development

PRESS RELEASE: November 29, 2016 - The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) is convening different stakeholders to discuss the potential of Goal 16, and the rule of law more generally as an essential tool, in the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The forum will open with a discussion between IDLO’s Director General, Irene Khan, and Brazilian ambassador to the United Nations, Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, who was one of the chief negotiators involved in the development of the SDGs in his previous role to the UN.

In other sessions, participants will hear the diverse experiences of trying to establish the rule of law in a range of countries from the Attorney General of Afghanistan, Mohammad Farid Hamidi, the Attorney General of Myanmar, Htun Htun Oo, the President of the Supreme Court of Paraguay, Alicia Beatriz Pucheta de Correa, the Italian Coordinator for International Activities on Anti-corruption, Minister Alfredo Durante Mangoni, the Head of the Financial Law Unit at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Jelena Madir, and the Judge President of the High Court of South Africa, Dunstan Mlambo. Representatives of various governments, universities and other bodies will join the above guests, Ms. Khan, and IDLO country directors from the field to discuss institutional building and access to justice in the pursuit of peace, security, sustainable development and economic growth.

IDLO believes that a culture of justice requires both state institutions that are well-functioning, honest and accountable, as well as citizens who are aware of their rights and empowered to claim them. Speaking ahead of the forum, Ms. Khan explained that “effective institutions are key to providing justice, upholding rights and facilitating development. But these alone are not enough. Discriminatory laws and policies aggravate inequality and exclusion. Marginalized groups, in particular, must be empowered to fight discrimination and access justice. Engagement with civil society and informal justice systems will be crucial to this effort.”

The forum is being held at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and follows the organization’s annual Assembly of Parties.


Event Information

To mark the occasion of the 2016 annual meeting of the Assembly of Parties that will adopt IDLO’s Strategic Plan 2017-2020, the Organization is hosting a multi-stakeholder forum on November 29, 2016, to discuss the rule of law and access to justice.

  Assembly of Parties 2016     Strategic Plan 2017-2020 

RSVP:

Please express your interest in attending the event by emailing secretariat@idlo.int before Friday, November 25, 2016.

Format:

A valuable part of this process, the Forum will bring our stakeholders together with special guests and IDLO staff, including Country Directors, to discuss how the rule of law and access to justice can drive sustainable development and contribute to building peaceful and just societies.

Working languages: English, French and Spanish (with simultaneous translation).

Programme Summary (detailed program available for download below)

14.00 p.m. - 18.15 p.m.  Discussion topics will include:

Social Media information:

Official Event Hashtag: #ROL4Dev (Rule of Law for Development)   #ROL4Dev LIVE   

For updates and highlights follow @IDLO on Twitter and @IDLOnews on Facebook.

 IDLO on Twitter    IDLO on Facebook   

Social Media Space: Participants are invited to showcase their commitment and support to furthering the rule of law, development and the SDGs to an extensive global audience by visiting the event’s Social Media Space (which will be located outside of the Plenary Room). 

A Social Media Information document is available for download below.