Commonwealth’s Legal Profession Can Help Promote Development, Democracy and Rule of Law

"An occasion to project Commonwealth legal principles into the future in an increasingly complex and changing world". Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Florence Mugasha.

Mr Blair stated: "What binds the Commonwealth together is our shared inheritance and our commitment to the protection and promotion of certain fundamental values -- democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and just and honest government. All of these values have stood the test of time, but need to be renewed to meet modern challenges."

The Prime Minister noted that the theme of the conference addresses the strengthening of democratic institutions through greater transparency and accountability; the protection of the independence of the judiciary and courts; the elimination of corruption and the eradication of poverty; the safeguarding of human rights; the removal of all forms of discrimination, in particular, discrimination based on gender; and striking the balance in the duty of governments to preserve the security of their people and the safeguarding of individual liberty. He stated that these common concerns lie at the heart of the discussions during the four-day conference which will "reflect the strength and dynamism of the Commonwealth legal community".

The Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office, President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, said in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by his country's Justice Minister, Chief Bayo Ojo, that the conference offers Commonwealth lawyers an opportunity to seek more effective legal machineries for realising the aspirations of the Commonwealth.

"As lawyers, you must build institutions, open international dialogues, and create laws that respond to our changing needs. There are several challenges that the Commonwealth Law Conference may wish to take up. These include environmental sustainability, human rights (including social and economic rights), the rule of law, conflict resolution, the pandemic of HIV/AIDS, the consolidation of democracy and economic development," stated President Obasanjo.

Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Florence Mugasha, who also spoke at the conference, said the event was "an occasion to project Commonwealth legal principles into the future in an increasingly complex and changing world." She noted that the theme of the conference mirrors the agenda of the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in Accra, Ghana, in October 2005.

"Their meeting this year will focus on criminal law, justice, good governance and international legal issues. I hope that we will be able to feed some of the outcomes of this Conference into the proceedings of the Accra meeting," stated Mrs Mugasha.

The Deputy Secretary-General said the Commonwealth Secretariat will continue to seek closer collaboration with partner organisations in developing new initiatives in the areas of human rights, criminal law, family law and the judiciary.

Key Links:

• Commonwealth Secretariat Legal Division

Related News:

• Commonwealth Lawyers Association