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ABA ROLI Conducts Conference on Emerging Issues in the Rule of Law
March 2013
On March 13, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) hosted a conference that addressed emerging issues in the rule of law. Panelists from ABA ROLI, other international development organizations, and U.S. government and U.N. agencies discussed youth and the rule of law, human rights and extractive industries, non-governmental organizations’ use of technology to fight corruption and mainstreaming the rule of law into the global women’s health agenda. A total of 230 people, including ABA ROLI’ international staff, members of the international development community, academics, graduate law and international service students and representatives of U.S. government agencies attended the conference. Audio recordings of the panels are available below.
Many countries receiving the largest amounts of foreign aid are overwhelmingly youthful, with median ages hovering around 15–22 years. This panel explored how to convert demographic developments such as the “youth bulge” in many developing countries into opportunities to promote the rule of law more effectively—and potentially with fewer resources.
Panelists:
- Michael Maya (moderator)
Deputy Director, ABA Rule of Law Initiative - Maryanne Yerkes
Senior Civil Society Advisor and Acting USAID Youth Advisor, Democracy, Human Rights and Governance Center, U.S. Agency for International Development - Charles-Guy Makongo
Country Director for the Democratic Republic of Congo, ABA Rule of Law Initiative - Mattias K. A. Lundberg
Senior Economist and Youth Focal Point, Human Development Network, World Bank
Download and listen to audio from this panel
If managed well, foreign investment in extractive industries can create opportunities for sustainable development. Panelists discussed effective strategies for protecting human rights, for empowering communities, and for promoting sustainable development in the context of large-scale extractive industry development.
Panelists:
- Maria Koulouris (moderator)
Africa Division Director, ABA Rule of Law Initiative - Naomi Kinsella
- ASEAN Program Director, ABA Rule of Law Initiative
- John F. Sherman III
General Counsel and Senior Advisor, Shift Project - Marco Simons
Legal Director, Earth Rights International
Download and listen to audio from this panel
Increasingly, technology is being used to combat corruption, including through dedicated anti-corruption websites, social media campaigns on Twitter and Facebook, and the use of SMS technology to report crimes such as bribery. Panelists discussed existing and upcoming tech-based trends in addressing these and other questions.
Panelists:
- Nancy Boswell (moderator)
Adjunct Professor, American University Washington College of Law - Graham Couturier
West Africa Program Officer, Equal Access - Nicole Anand
Manager of Projects, Global Integrity - Eric Stonecipher
Asia Regional Anti-Corruption Advisor, ABA Rule of Law Initiative
Download and listen to audio from this panel
Across the globe, women are subjected to violations of their human rights, significantly impacting their physical and mental health. This panel explored how core rule of law concepts and strategies can be used to ensure positive health outcomes for women and girls by challenging structural gender-based discrimination in health care systems.
Panelists:
- Maha Shomali (moderator)
Country Director for Jordan, ABA Rule of Law Initiative - Allison Nichol
Special Counsel, Office of the Associate Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice; Member, White House Working Group on the Intersection of HIV/AIDS, Violence Against Women and Girls, and Gender-Related Health Disparities - Johanna B. Fine
Legal Advisor and Manager for Projects and Operations, Global Legal Program, Center for Reproductive Rights - Aziza Ahmed
Assistant Professor of Law, Northeastern University School of Law; Member, UNDP Technical Advisory Group on HIV and the Law
Download and listen to audio from this panel
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