The IADL held its XVIth Congress in Paris (France) from June 7 to 11 2005 on the theme:Law and Lawyers in the Service of the People for Peace, Justice and Development.
THEMES
The IADL, in consultative status with Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, UNESCO AND UNICEF, was established at Paris in 1946 with Mr. Rene Cassin as its first President.
The objects of IADL, as amended at its XIVth Congress at Cape Town, South Africa, amongst others are:
(a)To facilitate contact and exchange of views between lawyers and lawyers’ associations of all countries and to foster understanding and goodwill among them.
(b)To work together to achieve the aims set out in the Charter of the United Nations.
(c) To ensure common action by lawyers:
(i) to encourage in the realm of law the study and practice of the principles of democracy
(ii) to restore, defend and develop democratic rights and liberties in legislation, and in practice
(iii) to promote the independence of all peoples and to oppose any restriction on this independence whether in law or in practice
(iv) to defend and promote human and people’s rights
(v) to promote preservation of ecology and healthy environment
(vi) to struggle for strict adherence to rule of law and independence of judiciary and legal profession.
(vii) To defend people’s rights to development and for creation of conditions of economic equality, enjoyment of fruits of scientific progress and natural resources.
Six Commissions were convened on the following themes:
Commission 1: UN Charter, International Relations and International Institution
Sub-themes will, amongst other topics, include:
- UN Charter – 60 years of its signing – experience – need for reforms or effective enforcement?
- Devising remedial measures for violation of UN Charter and other instruments, particularly by signatories and to make them accountable
- Economic embargo – consequences and role of UN;
- Violations of international law – aggression against Afghanistan and Iraq – occupation and violence in Palestine – role of United States and other participating countries – events in Haiti, Ukraine;
- Situation in Palestine – Occupation and violence – Apartheid wall – role of Palestine and Israeli NGOs;
- Anti-war movement – unprecedented participation-people as a bulwark for peace;
- Crimes against humanity – International Criminal Court – immunity agreements; War crimes – domestic jurisdiction over such crimes committed outside – importance of People’s Tribunals; International Court of Justice – need for mechanism for implementation of its decisions;
- Special International Tribunals (ICTY and ICTR) as afor international law and justice? Rights of the accused and the victims – violations – practice and procedures – necessity for safeguards;
- Role of NGO’s and functioning of international organizations – curb or increased participation?
Commission 2: Terrorism, Human Rights and Right of Resistance
Sub-themes will, amongst other topics, include:
- Terrorism and Human Rights;
- Terrorism as a global menace: (a) role of big powers, (b) State and State-inspired terrorism, (c) causes of terrorism – misgovernance, religious fundamentalism and fanaticism, economic despair;
- Liberation struggles, foreign occupation, terrorism and people’s right to resistance;
- Terrorism and impact of globalization;
- Combating terrorism – international law and role of UN, anti-terrorist legislation and human rights.
Commission 3: Legal Profession and Independence of Judiciary
Sub-themes will, amongst other topics, include:
- Independence of judiciary – Transparency in appointments to judiciary – process for removal of erring members of judiciary;
- Responsibility of legal profession and professional bodies to the people – Professional ethics – Protection of lawyers;
- Eradication of corruption and making judiciary accountable
- Restructuring of legal/judicial system;
Commission 4: Globalization, Human Rights and Social, Economic and Political Rights of the People
Sub-themes will, amongst other topics, include:
- Globalization and its impact on workers and employment – attack on Trade union and workers rights – victimization, physical assaults & liquidation of trade unionists – responsibility for protection – Columbia – International Commission on Labor Rights;
- Globalization and the role of trade and international financial institutions;
- People’s right to determine their path to economic, social and political development;
- Debts and its impact on development – writing off of foreign debts, the only way out?
- Accountability for violation of human rights – Violation of sovereignty of states by members of UN – responsibility under international law;
- Rights of immigrants
- New forms of racism and racial discrimination – Durban Conference and after – reparations and remedies;
- Rights of Women and Children – violence – gender discrimination – child labor
Commission 5: Right to Information, Transparency and Protection of Journalists
Sub-themes will, amongst other topics, include:
- Independence of media and journalists – freedom of expression – job security – physical threats – obligation to provide full protection to journalist and their sources of information;
- People’s right to information – domestic legislations – need for effective steps;
- Violation of right to information by spreading disinformation by monopolizing media – news distortion and black-out;
- Organs to secure freedom and pluralism of information – need for a global information center.
Commission 6: Protection of Environment and Right to Health
Sub-themes will, amongst other topics, include:
- Right to health, shelter and welfare and role of WHO;
- Right to sustainable development – practice and results?
- Devising remedial measures against countries polluting environment and creating hazardous conditions of health and welfare of the people
- Civil and criminal liability of Trans-National Corporations {TNCs} for destruction of environment and natural resources
- Depleted Uranium – chemical warfare – dangerous long-term consequences to health – situation in Japan – Vietnam – Koreas.
