The UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) recently partnered with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Rule of Law Programme Middle East and North Africa and Youssef SADER Foundation for Legal Culture to hold the RULE OF LAW FORUM – 2nd Edition.
The event convened legal minds, scholars, and decision-makers operating across the Arab world to discuss pressing contemporary issues throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The two-day agenda featured panel discussions on topics including judicial transparency, business accountability for human rights, legal frameworks governing startups in the region, implementation of international environmental treaties in Arab states, and use of artificial intelligence in legal practice.
HE Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Ibrahim bin Ali bin Issa Al Hassan Al Mohannadi, presented the opening address. The Honorable Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud, President, African Court on Hum
an and Peoples’ Rights, presented the Forum’s keynote, which highlighted the evolving role of international courts, such as the African Court, in advancing the rule of law, including human rights, and sustainable development. President Aboud also participated on a Forum panel that focused on judicial transparency in which she addressed the role of courts in society and their engagement with the public.
Dr. Damilola S. Olawuyi (SAN), Professor and UNESCO Chairholder on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development, HBKU, and HE Lothar Freischlader, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Qatar, also provided opening remarks, stressing the importance of the rule of law to the areas to be discussed during the Forum.
Commenting on the Forum’s success, Susan L. Karamanian, Dean, HBKU College of Law, said: “The rule of law is under stress, particularly at the international level in which decisions of international courts and tribunals are being challenged. Yet even in national systems uncertainty abounds
due to contemporary developments, such as digitization, social media, and climate change. The Forum enabled us to work with KAS and the Youssef SADER Foundation so that experts could help build legal capacity in Qatar and beyond.” “It was also an honor to host HE at the Forum,” added Dean Karamanian. “In his remarks, he particularly focused on the importance of the rule of law to Qatar, particularly as to key institutions in the country.” Each session featured panels composed of renowned experts hailing from the UN Development Programme, German Federal Ministry of Justice, Egyptian Constitutional Court, Supreme Judicial Council in Jordan, and other legal authorities. Panelists exchanged insights with peers from the private sector, including Siemens Energy, and Ooredoo, along with practicing lawyers and academic experts.
Remarking on the impact of the Forum, Philipp Bremer, Director, KAS Rule of Law Programme Middle East and North Africa, said: “The Arab world is a rapidly evolving region that requires collab
orative efforts to address emerging challenges in the field of law and foster collective progress. The productive discussions we held shed light on urgent concerns for Arab practitioners and decision-makers and paved the way for concrete actions that reinforce the rule of law in MENA.” Noting the value of the discussions, Me. Rany Sader, President, Youssef SADER Foundation for Legal Culture, said: “Our distinguished participants drew from their wealth of expertise and shared unique insights into an array of topics that may have been overlooked in light of severe geopolitical crises facing the MENA region. These conversations contributed to ongoing efforts to shape a more just and equitable future through effective and inclusive legal systems in our communities.” The RULE OF LAW FORUM is the KAS Rule of Law Programme Middle East and North Africa’s flagship annual event, organized in partnership with the Youssef SADER Foundation for Legal Culture. Established in 2022, it aims to promote the rule of law across t
he region by hosting dialogue on the latest developments shaping the Arab world’s legal landscape
Source: Qatar News Agency
