2017 Edition
2017 Edition
The focus of Qatar Law Forum 2017 was Goal 16 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. If society does not offer peace, stability, human rights and effective governance based on the rule of law we cannot hope for sustainable development.
Qatar Law Forum 2017 provided an opportunity to identify some practical steps toward the realisation of Goal 16. Given the standing of the delegates, the Forum provided an unparalleled opportunity for face to face dialogue and it was intended that as in previous Forums the impact of discussions initiated will continue far beyond the Forum.
There were four plenary sessions all interlinked to Goal 16 and the rule of law:
The Rule of Law – Combatting Corruption
The Rule of Law – Protecting and Enabling Displaced Persons
The Rule of Law – Strong and Judicial Institutions; Tackling Delay
The Rule of Law – Financial Inclusion
Following the successful format of the previous years, all sessions were discussion based. Integral to the programme is the role of young lawyers from around the world and within Qatar, and the Forum played a part in further nurturing the cornerstone of a future legal community committed to the rule of law.
KEY PEOPLE
KEY PEOPLE
former Independent Chairman of the Northern Ireland Peace Talks and former US Special Envoy for Middle East Peace
Agenda
A Rule of Law Discussion by Young Lawyers studying in Qatar
Young Lawyers from:
Qatar University,
Hamad Bin Khalifa University
Attending:
The Judges of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (Other guests are also welcome)
Welcome and Official Opening:
H.E. Dr. Ali Bin Fettais Al-Marri, The Attorney General of Qatar
Rt Hon Lord Phillips, President of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre
Senator George Mitchell, former Independent Chairman of the Northern Ireland Peace Talks and former US Special Envoy for Middle East Peace
Corruption damages everything it touches. That includes people, the environment, stability and progress. It is an issue for business, nations and the world as a whole. It undermines the rule of law, but the rule of law can help us tackle it.
Joint Chairs:
HE Dr Ali Bin Fettais Al Marri, The Attorney General of Qatar
Rt Hon Lord Phillips, President of Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre
Panelists:
Rt Hon Lord Justice Gross, Court of Appeal, England & Wales
Prof Robert McCorquodale, Director, British Institute of International and Comparative Law
HE Dr Mohammed Al-Monzif Al-Marzouqi, Former President of Tunisia
Hon Michael Mukasey, former US Attorney General
May de Silva, Chief Executive Officer, Anti-Corruption Commission of the Republic of Seychelles
Gopal Subramaniam, Justice, Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre
Conflict, crisis, discrimination and poverty are displacing entire peoples around the world, on a vast scale. The refugees of Myanmar and Syria are recent examples. But what of the huge numbers working away from their own country through economic necessity rather than choice? Some of the displacement is long term, and will affect generations.
Chair:
Prof Sir Ross Cranston FBA, LSE
Introductory Remarks:
Dana Khalid Al-Anzy, Georgetown University, Qatar; Youth Advocacy Program, “Education Above All”
Panelists:
Fahad Al Sulaiti, CEO of “Education Above All”
Lord Peter Goldsmith QC, former Attorney General of England and Wales
Mohammed Sarwar Khan, Federal Secretary, Law & Justice Commission, Pakistan
Sir Bruce Robertson, Justice, Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre
Prof Dr Meng Wan, Dean of Law School, Beijing Foreign Studies University
Doha is home to Bin Jelmood House, which seeks to play a role in the global abolition of human exploitation. Slavery is in the world’s history books, but it is also in today’s news. It is the same issue but in modern guise. Sometimes it is hidden and sometimes the world does not want to see what is there. It is a global issue, with equality and the rule of law at the heart of it.
Chair:
Sir Robin Knowles CBE
Panelists:
Dr Mark Ellis, Executive Director, International Bar Association
Kazem Gharibadadi, Deputy Secretary General of the High Council for Human Rights, Islamic Republic of Iran
Rebecca Hilsenrath, CEO, UK Equality and Human Rights Commission
Shireen Irani, Founder, iProbono
HE Gerhard Jarosch, President of the International Association of Prosecutors, The Hague
Prof Jianbo Lou, Associate Professor, Peking University Law School
Sam Shoamenesh, Chef de Cabinet to the Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court
Yasmin Waljee, International Pro Bono Director, Hogan Lovells
Ben Yallop, Head of International, Judicial Office of England & Wales
UN SDG 16 specifically recognises the importance of strong and effective institutions. Strong and effective judicial institutions are at the heart of the rule of law. But there are examples where the contribution of judicial institutions is reduced by delay and by lack of effective access to justice. And then there is the potential for that contribution to be enhanced by technology.
In Attendance:
HE Masoud Al-Amri, President of the Supreme Judicial Council
Chairs:
Rt Hon Lord Thomas, former Lord Chief Justice of England & Wales
Panelists:
Judge Madiyar Balken, Supreme Court of Kazakhstan
Rt Hon Lord Michael Briggs, UK Supreme Court
Andrea Coomber, Director, JUSTICE
Hon Judge Gerald Lebovits, New York State Supreme Court
Hon Geoffrey Ma, Chief Justice of Hong Kong
Senator George Mitchell
Robert Neill QC, MP, Chairman of Justice Select Committee, UK Parliament
Chief Justice Raus Sharif, Chief Justice of Malaysia
Ms Karen Tse, Founder and CEO, International Bridges to Justice, Switzerland
Judge Xiaodong Wang, Deputy, Second Criminal Division, People’s Supreme Court of China
assisted by: Yang Zhao, Rapporteur, China/UK Judicial Expert Working Group on Commercial Law
The world’s financial systems affect everyone, but not everyone is included in or can participate in those systems. Displaced persons, those in poverty, those without legal identity, all may provide examples of those facing financial exclusion. Like micro-finance and micro-insurance, fintech offers important solutions, and in ways that will in turn affect the world’s financial systems more widely. But this is also at heart about equality and the rule of law.
Joint Chairs:
Yousef Al Jaidah, CEO, Qatar Financial Centre
Professor Sir William Blair, QMUL
Panelists:
Thomas Baxter, Former General Counsel, NY Federal Reserve; Of Counsel, Sullivan & Cromwell
James Freis, Chief Compliance Officer, Deutsche Boerse
Ross Leckow, Deputy General Counsel, IMF
Prof Spyros Maniatis, Director, Centre for Commercial Law Studies, QMUL
Dr Manuel Monteagudo, General Counsel, Central Bank of Peru
Dr Joanna Perkins, CEO, Financial Markets Law Committee, London
Peter Spires, General Counsel, Lloyd’s of London
Dean Shouwen Zhang, Dean, Peking University Law School
Registration on arrival
Reception
Hosts:
H.E. Dr. Ali Bin Fettais Al-Marri, The Attorney General of Qatar
Lord Phillips, President of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre
Registration Continues
Coffee
A Rule of Law Discussion by Young Lawyers studying in Qatar
(Click for more info.)
Welcome to the 3rd Qatar Law Forum on the Rule of Law
Plenary Session 1:
The Rule of Law - Combatting Corruption
(Click for more info.)
Coffee
Plenary Session 2:
The Rule of Law - Displaced Persons
(Click for more info.)
Buffet Lunch
Plenary Session 3:
The Rule of Law - Modern Slavery
(Click for more info.)
Coffee
Welcome and Official Opening
(Click for more info.)
Coffee
Plenary Session 4:
The Rule of Law – Access to Justice
(Click for more info.)
Plenary Session 5:
The Rule of Law - Financial Inclusion
(Click for more info.)
Closing Remarks
Faisal Al-Sahouti, CEO, The Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution CentreBuffet Lunch
Certificates of participation wil be available
Organisers
The Court was established by His Highness The Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani to provide a modern specialist court with international expertise to resolve disputes between institutions and other bodies. A Regulatory Tribunal was also established to act as an appeal body from decisions of the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority.
The Court and Dispute Resolution Centre provide the full range of options for resolving disputes. This includes case managed trials, mediation, arbitration and other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). For further information on the Qatar International Court & Dispute Resolution Centre, visit www.QICDRC.gov.qa
During the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (Doha, 2009), His Highness, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, proposed the establishment of a dedicated center to educate and combat corruption practices.
The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center (ROLACC) was established in 2013 in Doha, Qatar and aims to build mutual partnerships and international cooperation. This contributes to the dissemination of knowledge and tools used to combat and prevent corruption and promote the rule of law. In doing so, the center utalises the most up-to-date methods and best practices through education, capacity building, conferences and seminars.
Christopher Grout, Abdolrahman Abdulkarim, Fatma Al-Bishri, Omar Ashour, Tala Sweiss, Khalifa Mahjob
Ghada Darwish, Nada Mansour, Robert Pennington, Nawfal Sabbar
Judy Lane, Annie Dunster, Dawn O’Hanrahan, Marc Pursals, Stefanie Blankestijn