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    ABA Summit for Democracy Events Recap

    In connection with the Biden Administration's Summit for Democracy (S4D), the American Bar Association (ABA) Center for Global Programs sponsored two events to highlight the importance of the rule of law and legal systems towards the advancement of democracies around the world. The Summit took place December 9-10, 2021 virtually and will, pandemic permitting, take place in-person in December 2022. The first of the ABA’s two events, “Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law” took place December 8 and the second event, “Lawyers, Human Rights Defenders, and the Rule of Law” took place December 10. 

    These events spotlighted the real-world heroism of judges, lawyers, and human rights defenders under attack by corrupt leaders who seek unlimited power by destroying democracy and denying accountability to the governed. The ABA's activities in support of the Summit for Democracy are coordinated by the ABA Center for Global Programs, which includes the Center for Human Rights (CHR) and the Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI).  

    Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law

    Wednesday, December 8, 2021 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM US Eastern | Virtual Webinar Event via Zoom

    This two-part event featured judges and legal experts from the frontlines around the world to examine the importance of judicial independence to the rule of law, which is indispensable to democracy. In part one, panelists described current threats to judicial independence and courts serving as impartial tribunals to hold governments accountable for the transparent enforcement of rights.  In part two, rule of law heroes shared their insights into protecting and preserving judicial independence and identifying how the international community can support their efforts. 

    Introductory Remarks by

    Panelists

    • Moderator: Alberto Mora, Associate Executive Director of the ABA's Center for Global Programs

    • Judge Murat Durmaz (Turkey)  - Judge Murat Durmaz was a judge in the Turkish court system from 2004-2016 and served as a board member of the Turkish Association of Judges. He was expelled from duty, arrested and sentenced to six years in jail for his defense of judicial independence in the aftermath of the alleged July 2016 coup. As a result, Judge Durmaz was forced to leave Turkey and is now living abroad.

    • Justice Richard Goldstone (South Africa) - Richard Goldstone of South Africa is a former Supreme Court Justice who is renowned for his work in various United Nations’ investigatory tribunals, commissions, and agencies, including as Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Justice Goldstone’s advocacy for the rule of law globally was recognized by the American Bar Association with its International Human Rights Award in 1994.

    • Judge Dariusz Mazur (Poland) - Judge Dariusz Mazur is a judge from a regional court in Krakow, Poland, also he is a spokesman for an association of judges "Themis'. The judge is an expert on international criminal law, human rights protection, immigration and asylum law. Judge Mazur has been outspoken about the importance of judicial independence in Poland and adherence to the Rule of Law principles since the legal reforms started in 2015, when the new government came into power, and as a result of this criticism was the subject of several disciplinary inquiries.

    • Judge Erika Aifán (Guatemala) - Judge Erika Aifán is a judge on Guatemala’s Court of High-Risk crimes. In March, the US State Department awarded Judge Aifán the International Women of Courage Award, and just last week, she received the Human Rights and Rule of Law prize awarded jointly by the governments of France and Germany. Judge Aifán has been the target of retaliation for her oversight of several high-profile corruption cases and support of accountability for grave crimes, part of a broader attack on the independence of the judiciary in Guatemala.

    Heroes

    Lawyers, Human Rights Defenders, and the Rule of Law

    Friday, December 10, 2021 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM US Eastern | Virtual Webinar Event via Zoom

    This two-part event featured lawyers and human rights defenders from the frontlines around the world to discuss the importance of an independent legal profession, which is indispensable to protecting human dignity. In part one, panelists described current threats to an independent legal profession and the transparent enforcement of legal rights. In part two, rule of law heroes shared their insights into protecting and enforcing human rights and identifying how the international community can support their efforts.

    Introductory Remarks by

    Panelists

    • Moderator: Alberto Mora, Associate Executive Director of the ABA's Center for Global Programs

    • Hina Jilani, Pakistani Human Rights Activist and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan - Hina Jilani is an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and a human-rights activist from Lahore in Punjab, Pakistan. Jilani is internationally recognized for her expertise in critical human rights investigations and women's rights in South Asia. As a result of her activism, Jilani has been arrested, received death threats, and faced hostile propaganda, intimidation, public abuse.

    • David Asatiani, Georgian Lawyer and President of the Georgian Bar Association - David Asatiani is the President of the Georgian Bar Association. David He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the European Association of Lawyers Vice-President of the Union of Bar Association of Turkish and Related Countries. David Asatiani founded the law firm Asatiani Law Partners in 2005 and is still its founding partner.

    • Fatma Karume, Tanzanian Advocate and Non-practicing Barrister - Fatma Karume is presently a non-practicing Barrister who was an advocate practicing in Tanzania for the past 20 years with extensive experience in defending human rights. She was the president of the Law Society 2018-2019 and during her tenure advocated for the independence of Bar, the Judiciary and rule of law.

    • Paula Ávila-Guillén, Colombian Lawyer and Executive Director of Women’s Equality Center - As a Colombia Lawyer and Executive Director of the Women’s Equality Center, Paula Ávila-Guillén has fourteen years of experience in designing and implementing advocacy and litigation strategies to address a variety of human rights issues particularly related to women's reproductive rights.

    • Sima Samar, Afghan Woman's and Human Rights Advocate, Activist and Social Worker - Sima Samar is an Afghan woman's and human rights advocate, activist and a social worker within national and international forums, who served as Minister of Women's Affairs of Afghanistan from December 2001 to 2003. She is the former Chairperson of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). 

    Heroes