Middle East Revolutions, the Roma and Environmental Cost Distribution on Tap at ABA Meeting

WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 22, 2011 — Human rights issues surrounding the Roma peoples, immigration, human trafficking, and revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa, will be on the agenda as the American Bar Association Section of International Law comes to Dublin, Ireland, Oct. 11-15, for its Fall Meeting.  The Convention Centre Dublin will serve as the headquarters for the meeting’s programming.

The opening plenary session features Irish President Mary McAleese, on Oct. 12, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  McAleese, former professor of law, has had a longstanding interest in many issues concerned with justice, equality, social inclusion, anti-sectarianism and reconciliation.

McAleese’s opening remarks will be followed by a luncheon with Mary Robinson, first female president of Ireland and former United Nations high commissioner for Human Rights.  On Oct. 13, Chief Justice of Ireland, John L. Murray, will present remarks during the luncheon session, 12:45 – 2:15 p.m.

A complete agenda and updated list of speakers can be found online.

Oct. 12:

Who Should Pay and How Much? Apportioning Cost and Responsibility Among Rich and Poor Countries in International Trade and Climate Change Negotiations: The ongoing international negotiations under the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round and the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change have a common, confounding challenge — how to equitably allocate obligations and costs among poor and rich countries.  The rift remains enormous — do negotiations stand a chance of bridging this divide? This program will feature experts representing multiple perspectives weighing in on this important issue.
9 – 10:30 a.m.

The Future of Recording the Past in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the United States: Determination of ownership rights in cultural artifacts discovered on public and private land is crucial for recording past human activity and preserving these remains for the future. Yet even those nations that share a mutual common law heritage approach these questions differently.  A panel of experts will bring together perspectives of varying nations and discuss the benefits and disadvantages of each country’s system, and discuss the effect of the current economic crisis on implementation of different systems.
9 – 10:30 a.m.

Security at the Dinner Table — Ensuring Food Safety throughout the Global Supply Chain: Ensuring the safety of the food we eat has become a high priority both in the EU and the United States.  How will the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act, passed by the last U.S. Congress, impact American companies and their suppliers? How is food safety ensured in the European Union?

9 – 10:30 a.m.

Elections and the Rule of Law in Developing Nations: Guidelines for Understanding, Adjudicating and Resolving Disputes in Elections: The prominent role of the Afghanistan Election Complaints Commission following the 2009/2010 election and the 2010 protests in Thailand have drawn international attention to the importance of election dispute resolution.  Proper EDR requires a system that is effective, competent and responsive; protects the political rights of citizens; establishes and maintains the legitimacy of a system of government; and prevents post-election violence.  The program will outline the seven key international law standards that apply to electoral complaint adjudication and three case studies regarding real-life situations.
2:30 – 4 p.m.

Privatization of Military and Security Functions: Concerns and Controls: The outsourcing of military and security functions that were traditionally the domain of states raises novel transnational regulatory and human rights challenges. The trajectory of Blackwater typifies these challenges: over the last five years, the company has paid a $42 million fine for illegally providing arms and know-how overseas; and its employees have been indicted for shooting civilians in Baghdad.  The panel will look at ways to address these challenges, including international conventions, strong national legislation and self-regulation of the industry.  Speakers include Ambassador Jerry M. Matjila of the government of South Africa and Viktor J. Vavricka, government of Switzerland.
4:30 – 6 p.m.

Oct. 13:

Out with the Old, In with the Innovation!  New Approaches to Rule of Law Promotion Efforts in Countries Emerging from Conflict
9 – 10:30 a.m.

Human Rights Violations and State Secession: A Evolving Standard?: What would happen if the South, for reasons relating to human rights violations, would secede from the Untied States under today’s legal regime?  Would the South be greeted by the international community as a sovereign nation with the right to independence, as was the situation with Kosovo? Or would the act of secession be ignored as an insurrection that the United States government had every right to quash?  This panel of experts will comment on the rights of secession, and discuss what might happen if a new entity were to break away and declare its sovereignty.
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Meet the Enforcers: Hot Topics in Global Competition Law: This program will invite representatives of enforcement authorities, past and present, to engage in a wide-ranging and free-wheeling discussion of current issues of concern in the antitrust realm, how they have addressed the banking crisis in their respective jurisdictions, and how they view the future of competition law and policy.
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

U.S. Green Card System vs. European Blue Card System: In the global competitive market for highly skilled migrants, several notable migration management models have emerged. Two of these are the long-established U.S. Green Card system and the newer European Blue Card system.  This program will be aimed at evaluating the policies as they currently stand, and looking at the prescriptive reality for the future.
2:30 – 4 p.m.

Gypsy Justice: The Plight of the Roma, Irish Travellers and Other Nomads: This program will address one of the most significant current civil rights issues:  the segregation of millions of “gypsies” comprising the Roma Travellers and other migrant groups in Hungary, the Czech Republic and various other parts of Europe.  What does the future really hold?  Is there a ray of light for a better life and real protection of legal rights, somewhere at the end of their dismal tunnel?
2:30 – 4 p.m.

Oct. 14:

Revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa:  Challenges Ahead to the Rule of Law and Democracy: In the past year, the citizens of Tunisia and Egypt have overthrown autocratic governments, have started the transition to democracy and the rule of law, and ignited popular movements throughout North Africa and the Middle East.  This program will examine the common challenges confronted by democracies in transition in that region.  The panel will identify legal and political institutions required to maintain a sustainable democracy.
2:30 – 4 p.m.

Human Trafficking — Modern Day Slavery on a Global Scale: Human trafficking has become a global crime, affecting every continent, on par with arms dealing as the second-largest criminal industry in the world (second only to the global drug trade), with an estimated $32 billion in annual profits.  The panel will include Kevin Bales, president of Free the Slaves.
4:30 – 6 p.m.

ABA International was founded in 1933 and leads the development of international legal policy, the promotion of the rule of law, and the education of international law practitioners. It is the only ABA entity that focuses exclusively on international legal issues.  ABA International has over 23,000 members in 90 countries, including 1500 in-house counsel.  The section has more than 60 committees, task forces, and working groups devoted to substantive legal issues or focused on geographic areas all over the world, monitoring and disseminating information on international policy developments that effect international legal practice.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

- 30 -

Follow the Section of International Law:

Facebook: ABA Section of International Law
Twitter: @ABAInternatl #ABAInternatl
Linked In: ABA Section of International Law I, ABA Section of International Law II